Cultic Studies Journal
Psychological Manipulation and Society
Vol. 9, No. 1, 1992

7/8

The Council of Europe's Report  on Sects and New Religious Movements

My colleague Andrew Rowe proposed a very interesting rule of thumb when judging sects. He said that we should ask, "Are the founders rich?" I certainly commend that test to any young people thinking of enlisting in those cults whose names I shall not mention. There are many whose founders have become very rich indeed as a result of recruiting young people and their subsequent activities. I am sorry that my colleague had doubts about registration. There are precedents for that. I understand that Spain, Finland, and Iceland have enacted such legislation, and it is essential if society is to carry out its watchdog role in dealing with those groups.

Mr. Espersen made an interesting speech. He recognized that it was a difficult problem. He felt that the Church of Scientology, which he described as a "cool, cynical, manipulating business," might fall outside the scope of registration. That is not my understanding. I should be interested to know the experience of the other European countries to which I have referred and which have brought in a scheme of registration. I should like to know whether they have felt able to deal with the Church of Scientology if it operates in their countries. However, that is a matter that we can look at again.

The main message that has come from the debate is the need for greater openness -- the need for more information. The way to get it is the dissemination of information to schools and colleges and by having debates such as this. For that reason, I am very grateful to all those who have participated, and I am most grateful for the almost unanimous support that my report has received.

Lord Kirkhill (United Kingdom) (Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights): I rise briefly to make just two or three comments. I pay public tribute to Sir John Hunt, whose task as Rapporteur on this issue was complex and difficult. As Mr. Espersen mentioned, the very fact that it has taken a long time for the report to be formulated is proof indeed that, in its early days, there were many conflicting views within the committee.

The report was produced against the background that it is almost impossible to define a sect and that many people believe that the public law of countries of the Council of Europe is sufficient protection against abuse. Nevertheless there is genuine concern, which many speakers have touched upon and which Sir John has set out most clearly. The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights considers that in the main Sir John has been able successfully to reconcile what was almost the unreconcilable, given the many competing views and amendments. The report is consistent and thoughtful and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights commends it for the attention of the Assembly.

The President (Translation): That brings the debate to an end.

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights has presented in Doc. 6535 a draft recommendation, to which two amendments have been tabled.

If the Assembly agrees, we will take Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Amendment No. 1 presented by Mr. de Puig on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education,

In the draft recommendation, paragraph 6, before the words "legislative and other measures" insert the words: "educational as well as."

Amendment No. 2 presented by Mr. de Puig on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education,

In the draft recommendation, paragraph 7, replace sub-paragraph (ii) with the following two new sub-paragraphs to be inserted before sub-paragraph (i):

The basic educational curriculum should include objective factual information concerning established religions and their major variants, concerning the principles of comparative religion, and concerning ethics and personal and social rights;

Supplementary information of a similar nature, and in particular on the nature and activities of sects and new religions movements, should also be widely circulated to the general public. Independent bodies should be set up to collect and circulate this information.

Mr. de Puig (Spain) (Rapporteur of the Committee on Culture and Education) said that the two amendments were linked. They added references to the importance of education, both through the formal educational systems of all countries, and through the wide dissemination of information about the activities of sects.

Lord Kirkhill (United Kingdom) (Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights): I can say on behalf of my committee that it accepts the amendments.

The President (Translation): I shall now put the amendments to vote by a show of hands.

A vote was then taken by a show of hands.

The amendment was unanimously agreed to.

The President (Translation): We will now proceed to vote on the draft recommendation contained in Doc. 6535, as amended. A vote by roll-call is not requested. The Assembly will therefore vote by a show of hands.

A vote was taken by a show of hands.

The draft recommendation in Doc. 6535, as amended, was adopted.

The President congratulated the Rapporteur and the committee on their work, which would add to the prestige of the Assembly.

CSJ  Navigation [ CSJ Issue Index ] [ top ]