The Shincheonji Church of Jesus in France has responded to recent media reports that it claims misrepresents and distorts the image of the church.
In a statement, the church criticized a local daily for publishing an article that, according to the church, portrayed it in a negative light, stating that “the honor of the church and its members has been severely damaged.”
The church further argued that the article was biased, as it highlighted one-sided claims from former members while offering little reflection of the actual nature of the faith community, thereby presenting a distorted view.
“Despite providing sincere answers during the interview, their position was reduced to just two lines in the article”, the church said as it emphasized on the need to establish fair media practices and accurate reporting standards in order to uphold religious freedom and protect the rights of believers.
The controversial article, titled “They Treated Us Like Animals,” labeled the Shincheonji Church of Jesus as one of the “problematic evangelical groups” in France, based on the personal testimony of an anonymous former member.
Further, the article included claims about training camps, isolation from personal relationships and monetary demands.
However, the church pointed out that its position was not fairly represented.
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 criticized this, saying, “That accounts for less than 1% of our full response, severely limiting readers’ ability to gain a balanced perspective,” adding that the church is always open and ready for transparent communication with the media.
”In order to reflect the real experiences of its members, the church also shared testimonies from believers currently practicing their faith.
Teresa, 29, who has been attending the church in Paris for six years, said, “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,”Another member, Axel, 30, 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 church. I’m living a truly fulfilling life,”
Regarding the article’s headline “They Treated Us Like Animals,” the church responded, “That expression deeply shocked and confused our members.
No one has ever been treated in such a way, nor does anyone feel that way. It was clearly used as a sensational headline to attract attention.
”The church further explained, “In reality, we do not allow any form of threats or stigmatization against those who leave the church. There is a culture of respecting personal choice, even after someone decides to leave,”
As for the claim in the article that a woman ‘broke up with her boyfriend at the church’s request’, the church strongly refuted it, stating, “This is not true. The man in question was also a believer attending church at the time and was reportedly interested in marriage.
However, the woman expressed that she wasn’t ready for marriage. The breakup was a personal decision made through discussion between the two individuals, based on their personal reflections and faith—not due to any pressure or suggestion from the church.
The church emphasized, “Romantic relationships and marriage are personal matters based on individual autonomy and responsibility. Linking these decisions to church control is not factual,”.
In response to allegations about the collection of personal data, internet use restrictions, and encouragement of cutting family ties, the church stated
“These claims are completely false. Only the minimum necessary information for faith counseling is collected.” They emphasized.
“There has never been any restriction on internet use or external relationships. On the contrary, members are encouraged to live exemplary lives within their families and communities,”
Regarding the use of the name “ECA Academy,” the church explained, “It was a temporary name used in 2019 for a Bible education program.
The Church is also urging the avoidance of prejudiced framing through sensational headlines or expressions.”
“Biased reporting on a specific religion or faith community can lead to stigmatization and prejudice against innocent members, ultimately infringing on their religious freedom and human rights. The media must move away from sensational, hate-inducing narratives and instead strive to present balanced information that embraces diverse voices with mutual respect”, the statement adds.
