Abe was not a member of the church, but his family’s political ties to the organisation could be traced to his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, whose support for the group was grounded in their shared anti-communist sentiments. Abe, along with his brother Nobuo Kishi and other senior members of the LDP, had given speeches to the church, legitimising its practices and endearing its followers to the government.
The church, founded in Seoul in 1954, a year after the end of the Korean War, by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible and conservative, family-oriented value systems.
Its followers were known as “Moonies” and the church was accused of brainwashing and manipulating its members to make them expensive goods and spiritual merchandise, and donate beyond their financial ability.
It developed relations with conservative world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as his predecessors Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
The church has acknowledged excessive donations but says the problem has lessened since the group stepped up compliance in 2009.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “brisbanetimes”“
