On April 9, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in France issued an official statement criticizing the French daily newspaper Le Parisien for its article published on April 7, alleging that the report portrayed the church in a distorted manner and stating that “the honor of the church and its members has been severely damaged.”
The church pointed out that the article heavily emphasized the one-sided claims of former members while scarcely reflecting the actual nature of the faith community, thus presenting a biased view. The church also noted that, despite providing sincere answers during the interview, their position was reduced to just two lines in the article.
The statement emphasized the need to establish fair media practices and accurate reporting standards in order to uphold religious freedom and protect the rights of believers.
The controversial article, titled “They Treated Us Like Animals,” labeled the Shincheonji Church of Jesus as one of the “problematic evangelical groups” in France, based on the personal testimony of an anonymous former member. The article included claims about training camps, isolation from personal relationships, and monetary demands. However, the church pointed out that its position was represented in only two sentences.
A church representative stated, “We sincerely submitted a detailed written response, amounting to several thousand characters, addressing the 12 questions the journalist had sent in advance. Yet, only two sentences from our response were included in the article.” The representative criticized this, saying, “That accounts for less than 1% of our full response, severely limiting readers’ ability to gain a balanced perspective.”
The representative further commented, “Judging by the fact that the article was published only four hours after we submitted our answers, it appears that the report had already been pre-written with a predetermined, targeted narrative.”
They added, “If written responses were not enough, the journalist could have visited the church in person to observe the faith community and hear directly from current members. The church is always open and ready for transparent communication with the media.”
In order to reflect the real experiences of its members, the church also shared testimonies from believers currently practicing their faith. Teresa (29), who has been attending the church in Paris for six years, said, “Faith is something you do voluntarily. Through this church, I came to truly understand God and learned how to act as a light in the world as one of His people.”
Another member, Axel (30), shared, “Before coming to the Shincheonji Church, I was searching for meaning in my life. Through my faith here, I was able to understand what God truly wants, and doing God’s work brings me great joy. Even while carrying out my mission, I’ve been able to travel, which I love, and I met my wife at the church. I’m living a truly fulfilling life.”
Regarding the article’s headline “They Treated Us Like Animals,” the church responded, “That expression deeply shocked and confused our members. No one has ever been treated in such a way, nor does anyone feel that way. It was clearly used as a sensational headline to attract attention.”
The church further explained, “In reality, we do not allow any form of threats or stigmatization against those who leave the church. There is a culture of respecting personal choice, even after someone decides to leave.”
As for the claim in the article that a woman ‘broke up with her boyfriend at the church’s request’, the church strongly refuted it, stating, “This is not true. The man in question was also a believer attending church at the time and was reportedly interested in marriage. However, the woman expressed that she wasn’t ready for marriage. The breakup was a personal decision made through discussion between the two individuals, based on their personal reflections and faith—not due to any pressure or suggestion from the church.”
The church emphasized, “Romantic relationships and marriage are personal matters based on individual autonomy and responsibility. Linking these decisions to church control is simply not factual.”
The church also raised concerns that parts of the interview included in the article described situations the interviewee had not actually experienced. “A photo showing someone with their feet on a radiator was described as a form of ‘punishment,’ but this image had nothing to do with any punishment and was taken even before the interviewee joined the church,” the church stated.
“The person in the photo is still an active believer in the church. At the time, he simply struck that pose as a joke to show he could do it, and someone else took the photo for fun. When he saw the article, he was shocked. The image was used without his consent, and the context was completely misrepresented. He plans to file an official complaint with the media outlet.”
The church emphasized, “It is deeply regrettable that the media reported such statements without proper fact-checking, as it risks creating a distorted perception among readers that the Shincheonji Church of Jesus as a whole is an irrational or abusive organization.”
Regarding the so-called “training camp” mentioned in the article, the church clarified: “This program was a short-term training that certain mission workers voluntarily chose to join in hopes of spiritual growth.”
“It consisted of activities like morning prayer and Bible meditation. Participants were free to leave at any time, and there was no physical punishment or coercion whatsoever.
However, recognizing that the program could be misunderstood from an outside perspective, the church has since discontinued it,” they explained.
In response to allegations about the collection of personal data, internet use restrictions, and encouragement of cutting family ties, the church stated, “These claims are completely false. Only the minimum necessary information for faith counseling is collected.”
They emphasized, “There has never been any restriction on internet use or external relationships. On the contrary, members are encouraged to live exemplary lives within their families and communities.”
Regarding the use of the name “ECA Academy,” the church explained, “It was a temporary name used in 2019 for a Bible education program. At the beginning of the course, it was clearly stated that it was affiliated with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and joining the church afterward was entirely up to the individual.”
In connection with the recent media coverage, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in France called on the press to follow several principles:
Inclusive reporting that reflects a range of perspectives and experiences
Fair representation of the church’s official statements and responses
Opportunities for current members to share their genuine experiences
A journalistic culture that respects religious freedom and the dignity of believers
Avoidance of prejudiced framing through sensational headlines or expressions
A church representative stated, “Biased reporting on a specific religion or faith community can lead to stigmatization and prejudice against innocent members, ultimately infringing on their religious freedom and human rights. The media must move away from sensational, hate-inducing narratives and instead strive to present balanced information that embraces diverse voices with mutual respect.”
They added, “We hope that Le Parisien, along with all media outlets, will uphold higher ethical standards and fairness in religious reporting. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus will continue to do its utmost to promote better understanding through transparent communication and open dialogue.”
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
