Japan Fights to Revoke Tax-Protected Status of Unification Church, Claiming Religious Discrimination
More than a year after the tragic murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, allegedly due to his ties with the Unification Church, Japan has taken steps to strip the group of its tax-protected status. Japan’s Ministry of Culture has recently sought a court order to dissolve the Unification Church as a religious corporation. While this move would significantly limit the church’s operations in the country, it would not completely ban it. The government’s decision has sparked controversy, with the church’s global body denouncing it as clear religious discrimination.
The Unification Church, founded by South Korean pastor Sun Myung Moon in 1954, claims to have around 10 million followers worldwide, including approximately 600,000 in Japan. Despite its seemingly modest presence in the country, the church wields significant political influence. Starting in the 1960s, it fostered strong ties with Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), forging connections with influential figures such as Mr. Abe’s grandfather and father, both former prime ministers. Former members have revealed that the church dictated voting preferences during elections and provided free support to LDP candidates.
The sect, known colloquially as the Moonies, has also faced criticism for its controversial fundraising tactics, allegedly pressuring followers into making donations or purchasing church materials. Mr. Abe’s assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, mentioned that his mother had been financially devastated by the relentless demands for money from the church, which led to a breakdown in their relationship. Initially intending to target a senior church official, Yamagami later decided to assassinate Mr. Abe.
Japan’s Culture Minister, Masahito Moriyama, emphasized that the Unification Church had long infringed on people’s freedoms, leaving them financially and mentally harmed. A panel investigating the church interviewed over 170 individuals connected to the organization and estimated the damages caused to be at least 2.2 billion yen, or $20 million. The panel unanimously recommended dissolving the church’s religious corporation as its actions were deemed illegal and significantly detrimental to public welfare.
The revelation of the Unification Church’s close ties with the LDP prompted the Japanese government to take action. A staggering 179 lawmakers admitted having dealings with the church, leading to plummeting approval ratings for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In response, Prime Minister Kishida promised to sever all connections between his party and the group.
The Unification Church operates numerous ministries across Japan and maintains investments in media, schools, ginseng production, real estate, and fishing operations. Donations from Japan serve as a substantial source of revenue for the global church, which is based in the United States and currently led by Mr. Moon’s widow, Hak Ja Han.
The church’s Japanese branch has operated for decades with the aim of achieving world peace through an ideal family centered on God. However, the assassination of Mr. Abe drastically changed the public perception of the church, painting it as absolute evil in media coverage, according to the church’s statement.
Only two religious organizations have been dissolved in Japan under the Religious Corporations Act: the Aum Shinrikyo cult, responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, and the Myokakuji temple group, accused of defrauding its members. Aum Shinrikyo, led by Shoko Asahara, rebranded as Aleph after his execution in 2018 and continues to operate under strict government scrutiny.
While losing its religious corporation status would deal a financial blow to the Unification Church, experts suggest that it may be able to resume its activities relatively unscathed. The church’s leadership is not expected to face legal repercussions, and since most of its financial assets are located outside of Japan, it can continue operating with its support base intact.
Some Japanese lawmakers have expressed concerns that dissolving the religious corporation could allow the church to transfer its assets to another entity to avoid paying out ongoing lawsuits against it. To prevent this, legislation is being proposed to address the issue.
Since Mr. Abe’s assassination, members of the Unification Church in Japan have reported facing discrimination and threats. Demian Dunkley, the president of the church’s U.S. branch, urged the Japanese people to consider the impact these events have on real individuals within their own society.
In summary, Japan’s move to strip the Unification Church of its tax-protected status has ignited a heated debate on religious discrimination. While the church’s influence on politics and its fundraising practices have drawn criticism, dissolving its religious corporation status may have limited impact on its global operations. The situation highlights the need to balance concerns about public welfare with the preservation of religious freedom.
