Perspektywa kryminalizacji grup psychomanipulacyjnych (sekt) i grup religijnych o agresywnym światopoglądzie w prawie Unii Europejskiej

Authors:

• Justyn Aleksander Piskorski

Abstract

The terms „sect” and „psycho-manipulation” do not comply with requirements of rational criminalization. The term „sect” seems too broad and defined in so many various ways and also applied so differently that it is not suitable to be introduced to legal language. Psycho-manipulation does not allow for precise distinction of pathological behavior from socially acceptable behavior. In such situation the author suggest to use the term „religious groups of controversial beliefs” for the purposes of describing pathologies related to sects. Religious groups acting in democratic society may be required to reveal their purposes and operation methods. The author considers possibility of undertaking law making initiatives aimed at introducing obligation of transparency of public cults and content of their teaching. It is the secret (non-public) sphere of activities of religious groups that should be penalized. The activities of groups threatening social order (mainly by provoking and promoting aggression) should be prohibited. There are no obstacles to include that type of penalization in EU directives providing for minimum regulations.