|
ISBN
3-930343-43-3
Final Report of the Enquete
Commission
on "So-called Sects and
Psychogroups"
New Religious and Ideological
Communities and Psychogroups
in the Federal Republic of Germany
Translated into English by:
Wolfgang Fehlberg and Monica Ulloa-Fehlberg
Editor: Deutscher Bundestag
Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Bonn 1998
Overall production: Bonner Universitäts-Buchdruckerei Die Deutsche Bibliothek -
CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Final Report of the Enquete Commission on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups"
New
Religious and Ideological Communities and Psychogroups in the Federal Republic
of Germany
Transl. into English by: Wolfgang Fehlberg and Monica Ulloa-Fehlberg
[Ed.: Deutscher Bundestag, Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit]. -
Bonn: Dt. Bundestag, Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, 1998
(Zur
Sache; 98, 5)
ISBN 3-930343-43-3
Foreword
Since the late 1960s, our society has experienced profound changes. Formerly
clear-cut standards in terms of life-styles, values and the meaning of life have
become less and less binding. New life-styles and new sources of meaning are
evolving and competing with each other. At the same time, the individual is
expected to be highly efficient,
as
well as highly flexible, mobile and willing to take decisions. This leads to a
great deal of uncertainty.
Both
as a response and as a reaction to this development, a plethora of new religious
and ideological communities and psychogroups has emerged in the past 20 years.
Some of them offer alternative life worlds in which individuals hope to find
caring, a sense of community and orientation, as well as "refuge" from the
demands of society, or opportunities for religious devotion, or meaning in their
lives. Other groups, however, promise "ideal adaptation" to the challenges of
the modern age by suggesting to individuals that they will able to increase and
strengthen their efficiency to an unrealistic extent. Many people in the Federal
Republic of Germany have observed this development with great concern.
This
situation led to the establishment of the Enquete Commission on "So-called Sects
and Psychogroups". In order to find out what conflicts can be ascribed to the
new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups, and in order to
decide whether governmental action is required, and if so, in what areas, the
Enquete Commission analysed the phenomenon extensively and in its many facets
within a period of only two years. During this analysis, the Commission
found that there were substantial gaps in research available in German-language
countries. By awarding contracts for research projects and expert reports that
could be completed within the short period of time available, the Enquete
Commission helped considerably to improve the research findings available.
In
its final report, the Commission presents the findings obtained during its work,
which was limited to identifying problems and conflicts that arise in connection
with new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups. It
was
not part of the Commission's brief to scrutinize specific groups, let alone
their religious beliefs. Freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom
of belief are cardinal and inalienable human rights to which the Commission is
firmly and wholeheartedly committed. In its work, the Commission has always been
guided by the principles of governmental neutrality and tolerance as laid down
in Article 4 of the German Constitution.
The
Enquete Commission was confronted not only with fears of citizens with regard to
the perils associated with "so-called sects" but also with the concern of many
communities that they might be labeled as "harmful sects" and treated
as
such.
The
Commission also dealt intensively with this side of the problem, and it is very
much against stigmatizing such groups "lock, stock, and barrel" and against
using the term "sect" because of its negative connotations. The rejection
of
the term "sect" is also supported by Enquete Commission's finding that only a
small number of the groups which have often been summed up with the term "sect"
in the past is problematic. It would therefore be irresponsible to continue to
use the term "sect" for all new religious and ideological communities.
A
research project for which the Commission had awarded a contract showed that
people who feel attracted to new religious or ideological communities are not
"passive victims". Instead, they have a number of needs, desires or problems in
life which they hope will be fulfilled, satisfied and solved in such
communities. Whether individuals join a community and stay there or drop out,
depends on the quality of the "fit" between their expectations and the answers
and
the milieu provided by the communities.
For
a realistic discussion of this societal phenomenon - i.e. a discussion in which
the issue is neither exaggerated nor played down - it is indispensable to have
reliable empirical findings and well-founded scientific studies of the various
aspects involved in this issue. In this context, it is necessary to remedy
considerable shortcomings in research.
Religious pluralism is a characteristic feature of our society. The communities
of the major world religions exist side by side with a host of smaller groups
representing a wide variety of religious beliefs. This fact alone should not be
a bone of contention that leads to governmental intervention. Instead,
government must respect each individual's choice of a given religious belief.
However, whenever laws are violated, whenever basic rights are infringed upon,
or worse,
whenever crimes are committed under the guise of religion, government cannot
remain passive.
The
Commission feels that, below this threshold of imperative governmental
interventions, government is called upon to provide support and assistance.
While government must not impose any rules that dictate how individuals should
live their lives, it can support its citizens in an increasingly complex and
rapidly changing world by providing information and education.
The
scope of governmental action in dealing with new religious and ideological
communities and psychogroups ranges from education and information on the one
hand, to specific legislative measures, on the other. This spectrum is reflected
by the Enquete Commission's recommendations for action. They include both
possible and necessary governmental interventions. The Commission's
recommendations for legislative action draw attention to gaps in the current
legislation and suggest ways of filling these gaps. The establishment of a
foundation which is expected to bundle the various aspects involved when dealing
with new religious and ideological communities and psychogroups is one
forward-looking proposal. For any further work on this subject, it will be
indispensable to open a dialogue across national borders. International
co-operation will be necessary because the phenomenon will not remain limited to
the Federal Republic of Germany; in fact, it is a symptom of modern Western
societies.
Helping individuals to find orientation and to cope with life is a challenge
which government cannot master on its own. Instead, a government must both
respect and insist on the personal responsibility of its citizens. To make this
happen, politicians and all groups in society must interact closely. It is
necessary to impart knowledge, to teach tolerance and solidarity, and to
strengthen the individual's critical faculties as well as his or her ability to
cope with conflicts. This will not only protect the individual from being drawn
to problematic groups, but it will also give legitimate new religious and
ideological communities the room for maneuver in our society that they deserve.
I
would like to thank all those who have constructively supported our efforts in a
variety of ways and who have thus contributed to the successful completion of
our work.
(SIGNATURE)
Ortrun Schätzle, MP
Chairperson of the Enquete Commission on
"So-called Sects and Psychogroups"
Composition of the Enquete Commission on
"So-called Sects and Psychogroups"
Members
Chairperson: Ortrun Schätzle, MP
Deputy chairperson: Gisela Schröter, M P
The members of the
German Bundestag
Ordinary members
Substitute members
CDU/CSU
Helmut Jawurek, MP
Hermann Gröhe, MP
Eckart von Klaeden, MP
Sigrun Löwisch, MP
Ronald Pofalla, MP (spokesman) Marlies
Pretzlaff, MP
Ortrun Schätzle, MP
Johannes Singhammer, MP
Birgit Schnieber-Jastram, MP
Kersten Wetzel, MP
SPD
Alfred Hartenbach, MP
Angelika Graf, MP
Angelika Mertens, MP
Klaus Hagemann, MP
Renate Rennebach, MP (spokeswoman) Prof. Dr.
Jürgen Meyer, MP
Gisela Schröter, MP
Regina
Schmidt-Zadel, MP
F.D.P.
Roland Kohn, MP (spokesman) Birgit
Homburger, MP
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Dr
Angelika Köster-Loûack, MP Volker Beck
(Cologne), MP (spokeswoman)
PDS
Ulla
Jelpke, MP (spokeswoman) Rosel
Neuhäuser, MP
The experts
Professor Dr Ralf Bernd Abel
Department of Business Law at the Fachhochschule Schmalkalden
Ingolf Christiansen
Commissioner for Ideology Issues of the Lutheran Protestant Church District of
Göttingen
Ursula Caberta y Diaz
Head
of the Scientology Task Force, Ministry of the Interior, Hamburg
Dr
Jürgen Eiben
Social scientist, Bonn
Hans
Gasper
Theologian, Commissioner for Sects, Pastoral Centre of the German Conference of
Bishops, Bonn
Werner Gross
Psychologist, Association of German Psychologists, Bonn
Professor Dr Werner Helsper
Department of Philosophy/Education, Teachers' Training College of the Johannes
Gutenberg University in Mainz
Dr
habil Hansjörg Hemminger
Centre for Ideology Issues, Protestant Parish Service for Württemberg, Stuttgart
Dr
Jürgen Keltsch
Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Munich
Professor Dr Hubert Seiwert
Institute of Religious Studies at the University of Leipzig
Dr
Bernd Steinmetz
Richter am Landgericht Hamburg
Professor Dr Hartmut Zinser
Institute of Religious Studies at the Free University of Berlin
Commission secretariat
The
German Bundestag made a secretariat available to the Enquete Commission in order
to provide organisational and scientific support to the Commission in its work.
Director of the secretariat: Dr Jutta Wettengel
Deputy director of the secretariat: Katja Meyer zu Heringdorf, lawyer
Academic staff: Andreas Klump, political scientist
Hardo Müggenburg, social
scientist
Wolfgang Wittmann, social
scientist
Office manager: Beate Hess, administrative science graduate
First Commission secretary: Sabine Reeb
Second Commission secretary: Petra Becker
Academic staff employed by, and working for, the various parliamentary groups
CDU/CSU: Dr Christoph
Golsong
Ulrike Heuberger
SPD:
Frank Sassenscheidt-Grote
BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN: Wolfgang Bayer
Ralf Klemm
F.D.P.: Sabine Scholz
PDS:
Gudrun Hentges
Table of Contents
Page
1
Mandate and Implementation of the Work of the Enquete Commission on
"So-called Sects and
Psychogroups" . . . . .
19
1.1
Description of the Problem, as well as the Commission's Establishment
and Mandate . . .. 19
1.2
The Commission's Methodological Approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
2
Phenomenological, Terminological and Conceptual Clarification of the
Subject under Review . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 27
2.2
The Term "Sect" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 27
2.2.1 Historical Meanings of the Term "Sect" . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 28
2.2.2 The Term "Sect" as Used in Scientific History . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 29
2.2.3 The Term "Sect" as Used in Colloquial Language . . . . . . . . . .
. 29
2.2.4 Understanding of the Phenomenon in Social Sciences . . . . . . .
30
2.2.5 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 31
2.3
The Term "Psychogroup". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 32
2.4
Types of Conflict with "Sects" and "Psychogroups" . . . . . . . . .
33
2.5
The Term "Sect" and Religious Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 34
2.6
The Term "Sect" as Used by Governmental Bodies. . . . . . . . . .
35
2.7
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 36
3
Macrosocial and Microsocial Dimensions of the Phenomenon.
38
3.1
Societal Causes of, and Conditions for, the Emergence and Growth of
New Religious and
Ideological Communities and Psychogroups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38
3.1.1 Preliminary Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 38
3.1.2 From the Traditional Community to the Elective Community . . .
39
3.1.3 Modern Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 42
3.1.4 Societal Secularity and Religious Indifference. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 42
3.1.5 Supply of, and Demand for, Meaning, Life-Counselling, and
Personality Development. .. 45
3.1.6 Globalisation and Localisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 47
3.1.7 Media and Public
Awareness . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
3.1.8 Experience Orientation as a Selection Criterion . . . . . . . . . .
. . 49
3.1.9 Modern Society: A Communication Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 51
3.2
New Religious and Ideological Communities and Psychogroups as
Perceived in Society . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
3.2.1 Historical Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 53
3.2.2 Objectives and Instruments of Governmental Intervention. . . . .
55
3.2.3
New Religious and Ideological Communities and Psychogroups:
A Challenge for Society .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
3.2.4 Survey among Various Groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 59
3.2.5 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 61
3.3
Group Structures, Activities and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 63
3.3.1 Opportunities for, and Limits to, a Typology . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 63
3.3.2
Overview of Structural Elements of New Religious and Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
3.3.3 Description of Typologically Generalised Groups . . . . . . . . . .
. 67
3.3.4 Mixed Forms, Business and Pyramid Selling . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 70
3.3.5 Potential Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 72
3.3.6 Digression: Enlistment and Recruitment Strategies. . . . . . . . .
. 74
3.4
Occultism/Satanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 78
3.4.1 The Scope of Occult and Satanic Phenomena . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 79
3.4.2 Modern Occultism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 80
3.4.3 Modern Satanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 81
3.4.4 Typologies of Satanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 82
3.4.5 Examples of Problematic Practices and Rituals in Satanism . . .
83
3.4.6 Areas of Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 85
3.5
The Psycho-market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 87
3.5.1 Issues and Hypotheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 89
3.5.2 Study on the Alternative Life-Counselling Market . . . . . . . . .
. . 90
3.5.2.1 Consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 91
3.5.2.2 Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 97
3.5.3 Problems, Risks, Negative Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 101
3.5.4 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 103
3.5.5 Suggestions for Further Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 104
3.6
Entry Pathways and Membership Histories in New Religious and Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups; Results of the Research Projects on "Drop-outs,
Converts, and Believers:
Contrasting Biographical Analyses of Why Individuals Join,
Have a Career, and Stay
in, or Drop out of, Religious/Ideological Contexts or Groups" . 105
3.7
Social and Psychological Effects of Membership in New Religious and
Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups . . . . . .
112
4
Information and Counselling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 116
4.1
Information Provided by Governmental Bodies. . . . . . . . . . . . .
116
4.2
Counselling and Information Provided by Non-governmental Bodies . .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 118
4.2.1 Need for Information and Counselling from Non-governmental Centres.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
4.2.2 Current Basic Elements of Conflict Perception . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 120
4.2.3
Need for Counselling and the Underlying Conflicts: Findings of the Expert
Report
Prepared by the
Department for Sects and Ideological Issues in the Diocese of Aachen . 122
4.2.4 General Conditions of Counselling Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 126
4.2.5 Lay Helpers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 131
4.2.6 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 132
4.3
Education and Continuing Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 133
4.3.1 Information and Education Provided to Individuals and Associations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
4.3.2 Information and Education Provided to Public Officials . . . . . .
. 137
4.4
Research and Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 138
5
Analysis of Specific Priority Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 140
5.1
Forms of Social Control and Psychological Destabilisation . . . .
140
5.1.1 Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
5.1.2 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 140
5.1.3 Levels of Psychological Dependency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 142
5.1.4 Religious Dependency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 147
5.1.5 Levels of Social Control and Manipulative Elements . . . . . . . .
. 149
5.1.6 Potential Dangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 151
5.1.7 Interim Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 153
5.1.8 Opportunities and Need for Governmental Interventions . . . . . .
154
5.1.9 Ethical Standards, Voluntary Commitments, (Moral) Appeals . .
155
5.1.10 Institutional Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 156
5.1.11
Recommendation to Fund Research Aimed at Shedding More Light on the
Issues at Stake . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
156
5.2
Children and Adolescents in New Religious and Ideological Communities and
Psychogroups . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
157
5.2.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 157
5.2.2
Conflicts and Approaches to Coping with Conflicts in New Religious and
Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups, as Compared with the Principles of Modern Life-styles. 159
5.2.3
Assessing the Education of Children in the Belief Systems of New
Religious and
Ideological Communities
and Psychogroups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 162
5.2.4
The Situation of Children and Adolescents in New Religious and
Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups . . . . . . . . . . .
163
5.2.4.1 The Unification Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 164
5.2.4.2 Fundamentalist Currents in Groups and Movements of Christian Origin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
5.2.4.3 Hindu and Meditative Currents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 167
5.2.4.4 Scientology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 170
5.2.4.5 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 173
5.2.5 Educational Conflict Areas and Potential Hazards. . . . . . . . . .
. 174
5.2.5.1 Problem Clusters within the Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 174
5.2.5.2
Problems and Conflicts in Relation to Schools, Peers, Youth Culture, and
Other
Fields of Experience of
Children and Adolescents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 176
5.2.5.3
Problems and Conflicts Affecting the Social Integration and
Individualisation of
Children and Adolescents
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
179
5.2.6 Digression: Ritual Abuse of Children: An Occult-Satanic
Phenomenon?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
5.2.6.1 Ritual Abuse, Dissociation, Multiple Personalities . . . . . . . . .
. . 181
5.2.6.2 Qualifications and Question-marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 183
5.2.6.3 How Widespread Are these Practices?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 185
5.2.6.4 Ritual Abuse: Summing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 186
5.2.7 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 186
5.3
Economic Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 187
5.3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 187
5.3.2 Examples of Commercial Enterprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 189
5.3.3 Pyramid Selling and Multi-level Marketing Systems . . . . . . . . .
194
5.3.4 Pyramid Selling as a So-called "Commercial Cult" . . . . . . . . .
. 196
5.3.5 Profit Expectation Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 197
5.3
International Aspects of New Religious and Ideological Communities and
Psychogroups. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
200
5.4.1 Comparable Problems in Other Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 200
5.4.1.1 Problem Description and the Enquete Commission's Mandate .
200
5.4.1.2 Scope and Scale of New Religious and Ideological Communities and
Psychogroups . .. . . 203
5.4.1.3 Legal Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 205
5.4.1.4 Legal Disputes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 209
5.4.1.5 International Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 211
5.4.1.6 Perceptions in the Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 211
5.4.1.7 Counselling and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 214
5.4.1.8 Parliamentary Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 215
5.4.1.9 European Parliament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 219
5.4.1.10 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. . . . . . . . . . .
220
5.4.1.11 Conclusions of Parliamentary Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 220
5.4.1.12 Implementation of Parliamentary Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 222
5.4.1.13 Conclusions for the Debate in Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 223
5.4.1.14 International Co-operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 224
5.4.2 International Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 225
5.4.3 Visit by a Delegation to the United States . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 228
5.5
Legal Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 233
5.5.1 Overview of Relevant Case Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 233
5.5.2 General Problems Involved in Legal Disputes . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 242
5.5.2.1
Behaviour of New Religious and Ideological Communities and Psychogroups
in
Terms of Legal
Proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
242
5.5.2.2 Typical Difficulties for Individuals in Legal Disputes . . . . . . .
. . . 243
5.5.3 Constitutional Appraisal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 246
5.5.3.1 Article 4 of the German Constitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 246
5.5.3.2 Rights of Corporations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 249
5.5.4 Application and/or Extension of the Scope of Existing Law . . . .
251
5.5.4.1 Association and Tax Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 251
5.5.4.2 Act on Non-Medical Practitioners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 252
5.5.4.3 Provisions of the Law on Parents and Children . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 259
5.5.4.4 Usury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 261
5.5.4.5 The Act on Psychotherapists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 266
5.5.4.6 Aspects of Labour and Social Security Law . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 266
5.5.5 Legal Provisions to be Adopted in Future . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 272
5.5.5.1
Establishment of a Foundation in the Field of "New Religious and
Ideological
Communities and
Psychogroups" . . . . . . . . . .
272
5.5.5.2
Introduction of a Legal Regime on the Provision of Public Funds for
Private
Counselling and
Information Centres . . . . . . .
273
5.5.5.3 Act on Commercial Life-Counselling Services. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 277
5.5.5.4 Introduction of Criminal Liability of Legal Entities and
Associations of Persons . . . . . . . 278
5.5.5.5 Making the Organisation of So-called Pyramid Games a Separate
Criminal Offence. . 280
6
Opinion and Recommendations for Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
281
6.1
Opinion of the Enquete Commission on the General Societal Phenomenon of
New
Religious and Ideological
Communities and Psychogroups . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
281
6.2
Recommendations for Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 285
6.2.1 Constitutional Appraisal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 285
6.2.1.1 Article 4 of the German Constitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 285
6.2.1.2 Rights of Corporate Bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 285
6.2.2 New Legal Provisions to be Adopted in Future . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 285
6.2.2.1 Act Establishing a Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 285
6.2.2.2
Introduction of a Legal Regime for the Provision of Public Funds for
Private
Counselling and
Information Centres . . . . . . .
286
6.2.2.3 Act Governing Commercial Life-Counselling Services. . . . . . . .
286
6.2.2.3
Introduction of Responsibility under Criminal Law for Legal Entities and
Associations of Persons .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
286
6.2.2.5 Making the Organisation of | 
