「宗教２世」が団体設立　被害者の声「国に届ける」

　世界平和統一家庭連合（旧統一教会）と「エホバの証人」の信者を親に持つ元信者らが７日、東京都内で記者会見を開き、「宗教２世」の当事者団体を設立したと発表した。旧統一教会２世信者で副代表の山本サエコさん（仮名）は「個人で被害者の声を国に届けるのは難しい。当事者が団体をつくり、確固とした足場を構築することに意義がある」と訴えた。
　団体名は「宗教２世問題ネットワーク」で、メンバーは１１人。監事は全国霊感商法対策弁護士連絡会の弁護士が務める。政府関係者に宗教２世問題の解決を要望するほか、オンラインイベントの開催などを通じて世論に訴えるという。（2022/12/07-17:33）

Children of followers of controversial religious groups including the Unification Church said Wednesday they have set up their own group to try to resolve problems they face.
   The group of 11 so-called "second-generation followers" of the church, whose current name is the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and another cult Jehovah's Witnesses plans to seek government solutions to their problems and hold online events to raise public awareness.
   Second-generation followers have been constrained by the doctrines of religious groups their parents belong to, regardless of their own will. There are cases in which they are abused or neglected by their parents, deprived of educational opportunities, and faced with poverty due to massive donations to the cults.
   "Because it's difficult for the victims to individually deliver voices to the government, it's significant that they form a group and establish a strong foothold," the vice head of the group, who uses the pseudonym Saeko Yamamoto, told a press conference in Tokyo. Yamamoto's parents are Moonies.
   A lawyer of the National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales serves as supervisor of the second-generation followers' group, which has already demanded the government revise a relief bill for those who have been financially exploited by the Unification Church and other religious organizations.