PARIS — The Shincheonji Church of Jesus in France has issued a strong rebuttal to a report published by the French daily newspaper Le Parisien, characterizing it as containing distortions of fact, extreme bias, and defamation of their faith community.
In an official statement released April 9, the church criticized Le Parisien’s April 7 article, asserting that the report presented a skewed perspective by heavily quoting speculative remarks from former members while failing to adequately represent the church’s views. The church stated that only two lines in the article were dedicated to their sincere response provided during the interview, despite submitting a detailed written account.
The church emphasized that this selective reporting presented a biased view of the faith community, neglecting the actual nature of their practices and beliefs. They stressed the importance of establishing fair media practices and accurate reporting standards to uphold religious freedom and protect the rights of believers.
The Le Parisien article, titled “They Treated Us Like Animals,” labeled the Shincheonji Church of Jesus as among the “problematic evangelical groups” in France, citing the personal testimony of an anonymous former member. The report included allegations regarding training camps, isolation from personal relationships, and monetary demands. The church countered that their position on these serious allegations was relegated to just two sentences in the published piece.
A church representative stated, “We sincerely submitted a detailed written response, amounting to several thousand characters, addressing the 12 questions the journalist had sent in advance. Yet, only two sentences from our response were included in the article.” The representative further commented that this limited inclusion, accounting for less than 1% of their full response, severely restricted readers’ ability to form a balanced understanding of the issue.
The representative also raised concerns about the timing of the article’s publication, noting that it appeared only four hours after the church submitted its answers. This led to the inference that the report may have been pre-written with a predetermined, targeted narrative.
The church representative added that if the written responses were deemed insufficient, the journalist could have visited the church to observe the community firsthand and engage directly with current members, reiterating the church’s openness to transparent communication with the media.
To offer an alternative perspective based on the experiences of current members, the church shared testimonies. Teresa (29), a member in Paris for six years, stated, “Faith is something you do voluntarily. Through this church, I came to truly understand God and learned how to act as a light in the world as one of His people.”
Axel (30), another member, shared, “Before coming to the Shincheonji Church, I was searching for meaning in my life. Through my faith here, I was able to understand what God truly wants, and doing God’s work brings me great joy. Even while carrying out my mission, I’ve been able to travel, which I love, and I met my wife at the church. I’m living a truly fulfilling life.”
Addressing the article’s headline, “They Treated Us Like Animals,” the church responded that the expression deeply shocked and confused its members, asserting that no one within the church has ever been treated in such a manner, nor do members feel that way. The church believes the headline was used for sensational purposes to attract readership.
The church further clarified its policies regarding former members, stating that no form of threats or stigmatization is permitted, and a culture of respecting personal choice is maintained even after an individual decides to leave.
Regarding a specific claim in the article about a woman breaking up with her boyfriend at the church’s request, the church firmly denied this, explaining that the breakup was a personal decision between two individuals who were both members at the time, based on their own reflections and faith, and not due to any pressure or suggestion from the church. They emphasized that romantic relationships and marriage are considered personal matters based on individual autonomy.
The church also expressed concern over the inclusion of interview segments that described situations the interviewee had not personally experienced. They cited an example of a photo of someone with their feet on a radiator being misrepresented as a form of punishment, clarifying that the image predated the interviewee’s involvement with the church and was taken as a joke by a current member who was shocked by its misuse and plans to file a complaint.
The church stated that it is deeply regrettable that such statements were reported without proper fact-checking, as it risks creating a distorted perception of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus as an irrational or abusive organization.
Concerning the mention of a “training camp,” the church explained that it was a voluntary short-term program for spiritual growth involving activities like morning prayer and Bible meditation. They emphasized that participants were free to leave at any time and that no physical punishment or coercion was involved. However, acknowledging potential misunderstandings, the church has since discontinued the program.
In response to allegations about the collection of personal data, internet use restrictions, and the encouragement of cutting family ties, the church declared these claims to be completely false, stating that only the minimum necessary information for faith counseling is collected and that there have never been restrictions on internet use or external relationships. They affirmed that members are encouraged to live exemplary lives within their families and communities.
Regarding the name “ECA Academy,” the church clarified that it was a temporary name used for a Bible education program in 2019, with clear disclosure of its affiliation with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus from the outset, and that joining the church afterward was entirely voluntary.
In light of the recent media coverage, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in France called on the press to adhere to principles of inclusive reporting, fair representation of official statements, providing platforms for current members’ genuine experiences, fostering a journalistic culture that respects religious freedom, and avoiding prejudiced framing through sensationalism.
A church representative concluded by stating that biased reporting can lead to stigmatization and prejudice against innocent members, infringing on their religious freedom and human rights. They urged the media to move away from sensational narratives and strive for balanced information that respects diverse voices. The church expressed hope that Le Parisien and all media outlets will uphold higher ethical standards in religious reporting and reiterated their commitment to promoting understanding through transparent communication and open dialogue.