|
French Protestant Leader Speaks Out Against Sect Law at Adventist World Session
July 4, 2000
Toronto, Canada .... [Jonathan Gallagher]
|
M. Jean-Arnold de Clermont
| |
Speaking during an interview at the Seventh-day Adventist World Session, M. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of the French Federation of Protestant Churches, spoke against the “anti-sect” law proposed in France.
“The anti-sect law proposed by the Chamber of Deputies may become government legislation, and we have reacted to this,” said Clermont. “The first section of the law reinforces existing laws which have not been enforced due to lack of political will and the inability to demonstrate material facts or proof. The second part of the proposed legislation is much more dangerous. It deals with mental manipulation and brainwashing. However, no one can define what this is, or, if you do, there is no difference between the strong convictions of anyone. In this sense this law is just a means of control. Politicians know about all about conviction. You want people under your control—isn’t that mental manipulation or brainwashing?”
Clermont went on to caution against the possible misuse of such a law.
“This is why such legislation is so dangerous, because in judicial terms in which you do not define such concepts, the law can be used against anything. Protestants, Jews and Catholics have all seen the dangers of the law and will fight the whole process of its implementation through expressing our concerns to those responsible.”
There are enough laws to deal with illegal activities of any group, Clermont continued.
“We agree that it is important to act against the illegal activities of any groups. We do not support any such activities. For fifteen years we have said that existing laws are sufficient to deal with dangerous cults. Liberty is indivisible, and the laws we already have are sufficient. What is lacking is the political will to use them.”
Clermont referred to the “sect list” that has already been used to deny religious freedom rights to some individuals and groups.
“The National Assembly has produced a list of ‘banned’ groups, which contains even unsupported complaints. Popular opinion is built by politicians to encourage opposition against religious movements. Politicians have been ‘crying wolf,’ but this is against the constitution that says that the state does not recognize any religions, which means that the state views all religions as equal.”
Clermont is also a minister of the Reformed Church--one of fifteen Protestant denominations and 500 Christian organizations that make up the French Protestant Church Federation. He states that he has had many contacts with Adventists over the years and came to Session to see “from the interior” the international Adventist Church. |
|
|
