Regarding the name change from the former Unification Church to the "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification," the Constitutional Democratic Party held a hearing with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and from the members who attended, the church side first consulted, and after the official application, it was approved. It was pointed out that the process leading up to this should be clarified.
Regarding the name change of the former Unification Church, the Agency for Cultural Affairs received an application from the church in June 2015 and approved the name change two months later. It has become clear that
Regarding this, the Constitutional Democratic Party held a meeting of the "Former Unification Church Damage Control Headquarters" in the Diet on the 4th and conducted a hearing with the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
In this, the person in charge of the Agency for Cultural Affairs explained, "We were able to confirm the fact that there was a consultation in 1997 with the person in charge at the time, but we have not been able to confirm the specific content or the response after that."
In response, a member of the Diet who attended pointed out, ``It is impossible for people not to understand the circumstances behind the certification 18 years after receiving the consultation, and it is necessary to have a thorough explanation.'' I will continue to seek answers.
Former Unification Church History of Name Change
This is how the old Unification Church changed its name to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
Religious organizations that have facilities for religious activities in multiple prefectures, such as the former Unification Church, must apply to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and obtain authorization from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in order to change their name.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs examines whether the submitted application conforms to laws and regulations, and decides whether or not to certify it.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the former Unification Church has consulted with the former Unification Church several times since 1997 about changing its name to the "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification."
In response to such a move, the National Association of Lawyers Against Spiritual Marketing Act repeatedly requested not to allow the name change, citing a series of troubles related to the Unification Church, such as the Spiritual Marketing Act and forced donations.
In a letter sent to the Agency for Cultural Affairs in March 2015, he complained, "We are trying to make people not aware that we are a religious solicitation by using a name that does not even tell us that we are a religious group."
Three months later, in June 2015, 18 years after the first consultation, the former Unification Church submitted its first formal application for a name change to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs two months later, in August 2015. decided to authenticate to
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, procedures for name changes usually require the approval of the director, so they are not reported to the minister.
Regarding the reason for this, the Agency for Cultural Affairs said, ``At the time, there was a lot of media coverage, and there was a possibility that the name would be criticized.''
Shimomura, former chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, who was serving as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the time, responded to an interview with reporters on the 3rd, saying, "From the person in charge of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, ``There has been a request to change the name of the former Unification Church for 18 years. , the application documents came in for the first time." I think the person in charge also explained, ``If you don't respond to the application, it may be an administrative omission.'' I never said, "Do it," and denied any involvement.
In addition, from 2013 to 2014, before the application was approved, he responded to interviews etc. for the monthly magazine of Sekai Nippo, which is related to the former Unification Church, and in 2016, the political party represented by the former chairman of the political affairs research Shimomura. The branch received a donation of 60,000 yen from the president of Sekai Nippo.
When asked about this relationship, he said, "It has nothing to do with the authentication issue. Regarding the relationship with the former Unification Church, including related groups, politicians need to keep their distance while maintaining a straight face." .
On the other hand, lawyer Yasuo Kawai of the National Association of Lawyers Against Spiritual Marketing Act, who had requested not to approve the name change, said at a press conference on the 29th of last month, "Hiding the fact that it is a Unification Church or a religious organization and spreading the doctrine. , I was taking the method of making it a believer, but what spurred it was the name change."
Regarding the series of events, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification has stated in statements so far, "Since the time the Unification Church was founded, the founder has been thinking about using the current name." The criticism that the name was changed to "dodge" is nothing more than an unfounded and irrelevant speculation and prejudice."