The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, French Branch, has adamantly rejected claims made in a recent Le Parisien newspaper article, asserting that the report significantly mischaracterizes their religious community through biased and selective reporting.
The newspaper's article, titled "They Treated Us Like Animals," portrayed the church as a problematic evangelical group based on an anonymous former member's testimony. The church argues that the report distorted their perspective by including only two sentences from their comprehensive written response to the journalist's initial inquiries.
Church representatives emphasized their commitment to transparency, noting that they provided a detailed multi-thousand-character response to 12 pre-submitted questions. The rapid publication of the article—just four hours after their response—suggests a predetermined narrative that minimized the church's perspective.
Current church members offered contrasting testimonials about their experiences. Teresa, a six-year member, described her participation as voluntary, stating she has gained a deeper understanding of her faith. Another member, Axel, shared that the church helped him find life's meaning while maintaining personal freedoms like travel and forming personal relationships.
The church categorically denied several allegations, including claims of controlling personal relationships, restricting internet access, or compelling members to disconnect from families. They stressed that personal decisions like dating and marriage remain individual choices, uninfluenced by church leadership.
Regarding a referenced "training camp," the church explained it was a voluntary spiritual growth program where participants could leave at any time. They have since discontinued the program to avoid potential misunderstandings.
The incident raises significant questions about media representation of religious communities and the challenges of balanced reporting on faith-based organizations. By highlighting the disparity between the newspaper's portrayal and members' actual experiences, the church calls attention to the potential harm of sensationalized religious coverage.
The church's response underscores broader concerns about religious freedom, media ethics, and the responsibility of journalists to present comprehensive, nuanced perspectives when reporting on faith communities.
