A bill working its way through the French legislature has provoked concerns in religious groups around the world. Ostensibly responding to the horrific mass suicides of Solar Temple sect members in Canada, Switzerland and France, the French Socialist Party has introduced what they call "anti-sect legislation." On the surface, it sounds responsible. Beneath the surface, it looks like legislated atheism.

On the drafted list of sects are smaller and controversial religious groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientologists and Unificationists. However, also included is a large Baptist denomination. All together the list names 173 groups considered "dangerous" in France. Germany, Austria and Belgium also created commissions to draft similar lists. The YWCA was included on the Belgian list!

Is this responsible legislation-or overreaching by a minority prejudiced against all faiths?

The core of the proposed legislation is an attempt to outlaw "mental manipulation" of the public through "religious proselytizing." The law doesn't clarify who would determine what either mental manipulation or proselytizing is, but one thing is certain-the French are serious. The penalty for these "criminal acts" is imprisonment for up to two years!

As written, the law would empower the government to shut down a religious group when two representatives are found guilty of one legal infraction.

American religious freedom advocates are protesting the French law, and officials of the U.S. State Department have spoken with French lawmakers over concerns. The Catholic pontiff called on the French news media to "be vigilant and to treat fairly and objectively the different religious denominations," although he did not specifically address the proposed French law or the legislators.

So far, the EU has not followed the French lead in creating a blacklist against small religions. Since the United Church of God, an International Association, would be categorized as "a small religion" and considered out of the mainstream of religion, we are concerned about the actions of the French-and potentially the Germans, Austrians and Belgians. Is this a precursor of prophesied legislative controls over religion? See Revelation 13:11-18. (The Washington Times.)