 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
May 19, 2004 -- No. 187 |
|
|
|
The Justice Chronicle,
provided by Soka Gakkai International-USA, is a free monthly
e-mail in support of the Soka Spirit movement. Soka Spirit
is the SGI's educational effort to create value and deepen
our understanding of Nichiren Buddhism through increased
awareness of issues surrounding the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood
and the spiritual foundation of the SGI movement.
BRAZILIAN HIGH COURT REJECTS NICHIREN SHOSHU APPEAL FOR
THE SECOND TIME
On April 1, the Sao Paulo State Appellate Court dismissed
an appeal filed by Nichiren Shoshu over rightful ownership
of the former Ichijo-ji temple, now called the SGI-Brazil
Josho (ever-victorious) center. The appeal followed an
earlier decision by the same appellate court, which upheld
the Brazilian Supreme Court ruling rejecting the priesthood's
claims that it was the rightful owner of the facility.
Nichiren Shoshu has argued that the facility's executive
director, an SGI-Brazil member, was replaced by a Nichiren
Shoshu believer in a June 1991 board of directors meeting.
Although the Supreme Court and other lower courts have
since ruled that the termination of the executive director's
position was wrongful and invalid, Nichiren Shoshu is
granted the right to appeal the decisions under Brazilian
law if a suit is filed within two years of the final court
decision. [See JUSTICE CHRONICLE, No. 186.]
TOKYO COURT THROWS OUT LAWSUIT
AGAINST SOKA GAKKAI
On March 25, the Tokyo District Court dismissed a civil
suit filed by Toshimitsu Ryu, a former Komeito Tokyo Assembly
Member, and seven other plaintiffs against the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government. The eight plaintiffs charged that the Tokyo
government should levy taxes on Soka Gakkai culture centers
because the lay Buddhist organization, having been excommunicated
by Nichiren Shoshu in 1991, was no longer entitled to
tax exemptions as a religious corporation.
The plaintiffs also claimed that it was illegal for the
Soka Gakkai to use its facilities for the purposes of
political campaign activities.
Tokyo District Court presiding judge Masayuki Fujiyama
rejected their claims as legally flawed and inadmissible.
It should also be noted that the Soka Gakkai has been
registered as an independent religious corporation since
1952. Also, Japanese law does not prohibit religious groups
to use their facilities for electoral activities.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
