PARIS, FRANCE, June 1, 2001: French Christians are bracing for problems resulting from the passage this week of a controversial new law aimed at controlling the activities of dangerous religious sects, but also likely to affect ordinary churches. Some churches were already considering removing the word “evangelical” from their names, the president of the French Protestant Federation (FPF), the Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont said. Opponents include human rights groups and mainstream Protestant and Catholic leaders. The law’s sponsors argued that it would give the courts powers to clamp down on sects that use methods like brainwashing or drugs to attract young people. The law also makes provision for a new offense of “mental manipulation,” punishable by a fine of up to $75,000 and five years’ imprisonment. But exactly what is defined as a sect or cult is unclear. Organizations whose names appeared on the list ranged from unorthodox groups like the Raelians, to large sects like Scientologists, the Unification Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses, to evangelical and Pentecostal-type churches.
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