French lawmakers OK sect regulation - News about religious cults and sects

PARIS, MAY 30 (UPI) -- The French parliament on Wednesday approved legislation regulating religious sects, despite strong criticism by religious groups and human rights organizations.

France's National Assembly approved the final version of the "religious cults" bill, following initial passage of the legislation by both the Assembly and the French Senate. Among other measures, the legislation would give judges greater authority to crack down on errant behavior by more than 170 religious groups

designated as sects in France.

The legislation was spearheaded after a series of bizarre and spectacular deaths staged by members of the Order of the Solar Temple in the 1990s. Members of the apocalyptic religious group were found dead in what police suspect were murder-suicides in France, Switzerland and Canada.

But the legislation's many critics say the French parliament has gone too far. The opponents include the so-called sects themselves-- which include groups like Quakers and Southern Baptists as well as Jehovah's Witnesses.

But Protestant, Catholic and other religious leaders have also expressed concern that the legislation may be twisted to curb freedom of religious expression.
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At the same time, the Conference of Bishops of France has recently announced the creation of a service to fight against sectarian "excesses."

For their part, supporters of the sect legislation argue it will not
infringe on religious freedoms. Rather, they say, it is merely aimed to
protect the rights of worshipers from groups who may prey on them.
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Commentary:
This is yet another example of poor journalism. Rather than blindly accept the propaganda and misinformation produced by extremist groups like the Church of Scientology, reporters should actually read the material they are writing about (e.g. the list of sects

). For instance, Southern Baptists are not among those groups affected by the new law. The law addresses crimes committed or encouraged by cults and their leaders.