The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, French Branch, has forcefully responded to a controversial Le Parisien article, challenging the publication's portrayal of the religious organization as a problematic evangelical group. The church asserts that the article, based on an anonymous former member's testimony, presented a highly skewed narrative that fails to represent the group's actual practices and member experiences.
Central to the church's rebuttal is the claim that its comprehensive written response to the reporter's pre-publication inquiries was reduced to merely two sentences. The church representative argued that this selective representation prevented readers from gaining a balanced understanding of the organization.
Current members provided testimonials contradicting the article's negative characterizations. Teresa, a six-year member, described her participation as voluntary, stating she has gained meaningful spiritual insights. Axel, another member, emphasized how the church helped him find life purpose while maintaining personal freedoms like travel and forming relationships.
The church specifically disputed several allegations, including claims about forced relationship decisions, restrictive training camps, and personal information collection. They characterized the reporting as sensationalist and potentially harmful to religious freedom, calling on media outlets to uphold principles of fair and balanced reporting.
By challenging the article's narrative, the Shincheonji Church seeks to combat what it perceives as media-driven stigmatization and protect its reputation against what it views as misrepresentative journalism.
