Photo/Illutration Lawmakers from the ruling coalition and two main opposition parties meet in the Diet on Oct. 21 to discuss legislation to provide assistance for victims of the Unification Church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. (Koichi Ueda)

In a rare show of unity, lawmakers from the ruling coalition and main opposition camps agreed to pass legislation in the current Diet session to help victims of scams perpetrated by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, better known as the Unification Church.

The Oct. 21 move came on the heels of daily attacks by opposition parties over ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the religious group that surfaced in the aftermath of the July 8 slaying of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Agreement was reached after a meeting among key officials from the LDP and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, and their counterparts from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).

However, a number of hurdles remain in passing such legislation before the scheduled Dec. 10 end of the extraordinary Diet session.

Differences emerged over how to provide support to people who fell for shady donation-collection practices that often involved large sums of money. 

The CDP and Nippon Ishin have already submitted proposals on this matter to the Diet, with a major pillar being that family members acting on behalf of victims in requesting donations to the church be returned are granted their wish as long as a family court gives its consent.

The measure is intended to help children of church members whose lives were plunged into difficulties because of large donations to the church.

The suspected gunman in Abe’s murder told police he grew up in dire poverty as a result of his mother’s donations. He said he targeted Abe because he suspected the veteran politician was closely associated with the Unification Church.

LDP lawmakers raised concerns that such a system could be construed as a violation of the Constitution that guarantees property rights are not infringed upon by a third party.

Akira Nagatsuma, the CDP policy chief, said at the Oct. 21 meeting that legislation must be submitted by Nov. 11 to ensure passage in the current Diet session.

However, LDP lawmakers were hesitant to commit to a deadline, mainly because of other bills, including a supplementary budget, that have to be deliberated once they are submitted to the Diet session.

The two sides agreed to meet again on Oct. 25 at which the main points of future deliberation are to be presented by both sides.

LDP lawmakers also suggested that the panel meet once a week, but Shun Otokita, the Nippon Ishin policy chief, said such a schedule would not allow sufficient time to deliberate and pass the legislation.

There are, however, points on which both sides agree, such as changing the law to expand the range of cases in which individuals can ask that contracts be rescinded for so-called spiritual sales orchestrated by the church.

Another issue facing the two sides is that any legislation will not help the thousands who have already faced financial ruin due to past donations to the church or purchases of expensive items.

Consideration is being given for having the government strengthen consultation services that past victims can turn to for advice on how to deal with their problems.

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