松本サリン事件や地下鉄サリン事件を起こしたオウム真理教は、当然ながら宗教法人としての解散命令を受け、教祖を含む幹部13人に死刑判決が下され、それらはすでに執行されています(2018年)。
Aum Shinrikyo, the organization responsible for the Matsumoto Sarin gas attack and the Sarin gas attack on the subway, was naturally ordered to dissolve as a religious corporation, and 13 of its executives, including the guru, were sentenced to death, which have already been executed (2018).
ところが、このオウム真理教には後継団体が存在します。それが「アレフ(Aleph)」、「ひかりの輪」、そしてその他の信者による小規模集団です。
However, Aum Shinrikyo has successor groups. These are Aleph, Hikari no Wa, and other small groups of believers.
で、ふと気になったのが――
And I was wondering...
この「アレフ」と「ひかりの輪」に、宗教法人格が認められてたりしないだろうな?
Is the religious legal entity status granted to Aleph and Hikari no Wa?
という点です。
もし認められているとしたら、本社を計画的に倒産させて(負債を踏み倒し)、別会社で営業を続けるような話に見えます。
If allowed, it looks like a story of a company that systematically bankrupts its headquarters (overdrawing its debts) and continues operating under a different company.
#現米国大統領だったトランプ氏も、実業家時代に似たような手法を使っていたという話がありますし、行政処分を受けた企業が取る常套手段とも言われています。
#It is said that Mr. Trump, the current President of the United States, used a similar method when he was a businessman, and it is also said to be a common practice taken by companies that have been subjected to administrative punishment.
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調べた結果、これらの宗教団体には宗教法人格は認められていませんでした。
Upon investigation, these religious organizations were not granted religious juridical personality.
理由としては以下のようなことらしいです。
The reasons are said to be as follows.
(1)公安調査庁の「団体規制法」に基づく監視対象であり、所轄庁(都道府県知事または文部科学大臣)が法人格を認可しない
(1) Subject to monitoring by the Public Security Intelligence Agency under the “Group Regulation Law” and the competent authorities (prefectural governor or Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) do not approve its juridical personality.
(2)オウム真理教時代からの教義・指導体制の連続性が認められている
(2) Continuity of doctrine and guidance system from the Aum Shinrikyo era is recognized.
(3)社会的な不安や治安リスクをもたらす可能性があるとされている
(3) Potential to cause social unrest and security risks.
この判断は妥当だと思います。もし宗教法人格が認められ、税制上の優遇措置や財産管理が可能になっていたとしたら、私は怒りますよ。
I think this decision is reasonable. If religious corporate status were granted and tax benefits and property control were available, I would be outraged.
とはいえ、アレフやひかりの輪は、宗教法人格がなくても宗教活動を続けています。
Nevertheless, Aleph and Hikari no Wa continue their religious activities even though they are not incorporated.
何を教義としているのかは知りませんが、「信仰の自由」は日本国憲法に保障された権利です。
I don't know what their doctrine is, but “freedom of religion” is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Japan.
同じように、旧統一教会も、解散命令に対して即時抗告なんてややこしいことをせず、さっさと宗教法人格を手放して、信仰活動を続ければよいと思います。
Likewise, I think the former Unification Church should quickly relinquish its status as a religious corporation and continue its spiritual activities instead of making an immediate appeal against the dissolution order a complicated thing to do.
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さて、私の現在の関心はここです:
Well, here is my current concern:
「宗教法人格を有していることで確保されていた旧統一教会の財産に対して、今後、損害賠償請求がしやすくなるか?」
Will it be easier to file claims for damages against the property of the former Unification Church, which was secured by its status as a religious corporation?”
この闘争の次なるフェーズは、被害者が旧統一教会によって奪われた財産(土地・家・金銭)を取り返すプロセスです。
The next phase of this struggle is the process by which the victims will regain the property (land, houses, money) that was taken from them by the former Unification Church.
調べた限りでは、「宗教法人格を失ったからといって、財産への法的な保護が弱くなるわけではない」とのこと。
As far as I research, “the loss of religious juridical personality does not weaken the legal protection to property.
つまり、宗教法人格を失っても、団体が解散しない限りは、一般社団法人などと同様に、損害賠償請求の対象として存続します。請求先は「法人そのもの」であり、財産も依然として法人に帰属している、ということです。
In other words, even if the organization loses its status as a religious corporation, it will continue to be subject to claims for damages in the same way as a general incorporated association, unless it is dissolved. The claim is against the “corporation itself,” and the property still belongs to the corporation.
ただし、宗教法人としての“特殊な立場”(たとえば信教の自由、団体自治など)を盾にして訴訟を長引かせる戦術は、法人格の喪失後には通用しにくくなる可能性があります。これは、被害者にとっては有利な状況です。
However, prolonging litigation by using its “special status” as a religious corporation (e.g., freedom of religion, group autonomy, etc.) as a shield may be less effective after losing its juridical personality. This is an advantageous situation for victims.
一方で、旧統一教会が、法人格喪失前に財産を別法人や関連団体に移してしまえば、回収は困難になります。実際、過去にそうした事例は存在しました。さらに、宗教法人が法人格を失うと同時に「解散」してしまった場合には、「清算手続き」に入るため、被害者は清算人への届け出を通じてしか賠償請求できなくなります。
On the other hand, recovery will be difficult if the former Unification Church transfers its property to another corporation or affiliated organization before it loses its corporate status. Such cases have existed in the past. Furthermore, suppose a religious corporation is “dissolved” simultaneously. In that case, it loses its juridical personality and enters into “liquidation proceedings,” victims can only claim compensation through notification to the liquidator.
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以上を踏まえると、現時点での被害者にとって最も現実的で有利な展開は、以下のようになるでしょう:
Given the above, the most realistic and favorable development for the victim would be as follows.
―― 法人格を失った旧統一教会が、活動を続ける一方で、山のような訴訟を受け、裁判ごとに賠償金を支払い続ける
"The former Unification Church, which has lost its corporate status, continues to receive a mountain of lawsuits and pay compensation for each court case while continuing its activities."
という流れです。
もちろん、法人格喪失前の財産移転を防ぐ必要があるため、仮差押え・保全処分・刑事当局との連携などの戦略が重要になってくるでしょう。
Of course, strategies such as provisional seizure, temporary restraining orders, and cooperation with criminal authorities will be essential, as it is necessary to prevent the transfer of assets before the loss of legal personality.
つまり、旧統一教会との闘いは、いよいよ法廷フェーズ(民事訴訟)に入ったというわけです。
In other words, the fight against the former Unification Church has finally entered the court phase (civil litigation).
即時抗告が出されたとはいえ、東京高裁の判断が覆る可能性は極めて低いと私は見ています。
Even though an immediate appeal has been filed, I see little chance that the Tokyo High Court's decision will be overturned.
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ということで、私は、旧統一教会にエールを贈りたいと思います。
So, I would like to shout out to the former Unification Church.
がんばれ! 旧統一教会 ―― 宗教法人格を失っても、(当面は)宗教活動を続けるんだ、「アレフ(Aleph)」や「ひかりの輪」のように。
Hang in there! The former Unification Church- even though you lost its religious juridical personality, try to continue its religious activities (for now), just like Aleph and Hikari no Wa.