New health ministry guidelines will classify as abuse any acts by members of religious groups that threaten or force their children to participate in religious activities, or that hinder a child's career path based on religious doctrine.
According to sources, the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry is preparing its first draft of guidelines to help local governments deal with issues of child abuse that have emerged in connection with religious groups such as the Unification Church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
Children of religious groups' followers have criticized authorities' handling of this issue in the past. They have said child consultation centers and the police did not respond to their complaints of abuse, telling the children there was nothing they could do because freedom of religion is protected under the Constitution.
