Shincheonji: Concern for religious freedom in Korea

Shincheonji: Concern for religious freedom in Korea

Shincheonji Frankfurt: Religious community condemns scapegoating politics and calls for a return to the rule of law.

FRANKFURT AM MAIN / SEOUL, January 21, 2021 - The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, represented in Germany by the Deutschland Zion Gemeinde e.V. in Frankfurt, today published a decisive statement on the current political situation in South Korea. The religious community accuses the South Korean government of specifically targeting a religious minority and mobilizing state power in a retaliatory manner. According to the Church, this action constitutes a serious violation of Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and the principle of separation of church and state.

Prejudgement by the executive

The reason for the criticism are statements made by the state leadership in mid-January. On January 12, President Lee Jae-myung stated during a meeting with religious leaders that “social harm [caused by a particular religion] has been neglected for too long.” Subsequently, on January 13, during a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok used terms such as “cult” and “heresy” to order a joint investigation and “eradication” measures.

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus commented on this in its statement as follows:

"These statements effectively pre-empt an outcome before a formal investigation has even begun. Such rhetoric from the top of the executive branch preemptively brands a specific religious group as a 'socially problematic entity.' This may be interpreted as compromising the due process and principles of the investigative process.”

State intervention in theological questions

The Church expresses its deep concern about “unilateral interference by the state.” While the ordered investigation is ongoing, the administration is tearing down constitutional boundaries by declaring the group a “cult” as an established fact.

The community fundamentally questions the legitimacy of this interference: "With what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrines? On what legal basis does the highest seat of power provide 'investigative guidelines' that undermine the independence of the judiciary?"

The criteria for “orthodoxy” or “heresy” should never be based on political affinity or secular interests, but should be rooted solely in Holy Scripture. The church draws historical parallels to the persecution of the early Christians and recalls that Jesus was also branded a “heretic” by the religious establishment at the time.

Offer for dialogue and past acquittals

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus emphasizes that it has repeatedly proposed a transparent solution: resolving theological disputes through open, public Bible examination. “To date there has been no fair response to this invitation,” the church said. They have never claimed infallibility and are prepared to correct specific errors, but demand that these be specifically named and not generalized.

The municipality also points out that legal processes have repeatedly resulted in acquittals despite numerous past allegations. The “rehashing” of matters that have already been resolved in court for political attacks leads observers to question whether this still corresponds to the standards of a democratic constitutional state.

Appeal for unity and against discrimination

Finally, the Church calls on the President and the political establishment to abandon the “politics of scapegoating.” The state has a duty to ensure that no citizen is excluded because of their faith.

"If one religion is targeted today, any other marginalized group could be targeted tomorrow. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus will stand firm in truth and faith within the framework of law and order and will not be silenced."

Church members, the statement continued, have consistently demonstrated their sincerity as citizens of the Republic of Korea through actions, from cooperation with authorities to life-saving blood donations and volunteer work. Call on the government to return to its fundamental duty of serving all people equally.

About Shincheonji Church of Jesus – Frankfurt Simon The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a Christian religious community. The community in Frankfurt am Main is actively involved in social life and is legally represented by the Deutschland Zion Gemeinde e.V.

Contact & Publisher:

Shincheonji Church of Jesus – Frankfurt Simon (Germany Zion Gemeinde e.V.) Westerbachstr. 110 65936 Frankfurt am Main

Authorized representative: Seongcheon Park

Press contact: Email: info@shincheonji-frankfurt.de Website: https://frankfurt.shincheonji.de

Association register: Frankfurt District Court, VR 14413 Responsible for the content according to Section 55 Para. 2 RStV: Seongcheon Park

About Shincheonji Church of Jesus – Frankfurt Simon The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a Christian religious community. The community in Frankfurt am Main is actively involved in social life and is legally represented by the Deutschland Zion Gemeinde e.V.

contact
Germany Zion Community e.V.
Seongcheon Park
Westerbachstrasse 110
65936 Frankfurt
01722785431

https://frankfurt.shincheonji.de/

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