「うれしい」「一つの区切り」　献金問題の被害者ら―旧統一教会解散命令

　世界平和統一家庭連合（旧統一教会）に対する東京地裁の解散命令を受け、教団への高額献金によって被害を受けた人たちからは「命令はうれしい」「決定は一つの区切り」などの声が上がった。
　父が現役信者という３０代女性は、父と元信者の母が少なくとも数千万円を献金したといい、「宗教法人として税制優遇されるべき団体ではなかった。解散命令はうれしい」と地裁決定を歓迎。女性は、被害賠償の原資となる教団の財産もすぐに保全すべきだとした上で「被害を繰り返さないためにも、世間の皆さんは自分の問題だと思って教団の監視を続けてもらいたい」と呼び掛けた。
　妻が元信者という６０代男性は「解散命令は一つの区切りだ」と指摘。教団が今後宗教法人格を失っても教団の教えを信じ続ける人はいるとして、「信者の家族は声を上げ、公的な相談窓口などに助けを求めてほしい」と語った。
　「旧統一教会の被害者と支援者の会・高知」を主催する橋田達夫さん（６７）は、元妻が１億円を教団に寄付したという。高知市で記者会見を開いた橋田さんは「命令は当然だ。（教団の）悪さは分かっていたので、命令が出ると思っていた」と話した。
　同会は、解散命令が出た後に声明を発表した。声明は、旧統一教会から精神的・金銭的被害を受けた人たちに損害賠償請求の裁判を起こすよう呼び掛けた上で「弁護団の輪の中に入って」と連帯を訴えた。（2025/03/25-19:01）

Victims who suffered from large donations to the Unification Church expressed joy Tuesday over Tokyo District Court's decision the same day to order the dissolution of the controversial religious group.
   A woman in her 30s whose father is still a believer said that he and her mother, a former believer, have donated at least several tens of millions of yen to the Unification Church. "It wasn't an organization that should have received tax benefits as a religious corporation," she said. "I am happy about the dissolution order."
   The woman added that the Unification Church's assets should be preserved so that they can be used to cover compensation. "I hope the public will continue to monitor the religious group and consider it an issue that could affect them, so that the damage will not be repeated," she said.
   A man in his 60s whose wife is a former follower of the group called the dissolution order "a milestone." Noting that some people are likely to continue to believe the teachings of the Unification Church even after it loses its status as a religious corporation, he said, "I hope the families of believers will raise their voices and seek help, including from public consultation services."
   Tatsuo Hashida, 67, who leads a group of victims and their supporters in the western Japan prefecture of Kochi, said his former wife donated 100 million yen to the Unification Church. "The order is no surprise," Hashida told a press conference in the city of Kochi. "I knew how bad (the Unification Church) was, so I believed the order would be issued."