The government started Monday a telephone consultation service for people experiencing trouble with the Unification Church, a religious group that has stirred controversy since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed over alleged links to the group in July.
Officials from government offices, including the Justice Ministry and the police and consumer affairs agencies, have gathered in Tokyo to offer the service. They will mainly introduce professional consultation entities, including those offering legal help to resolve troubles with the group. The service is set to run through Sept. 30.
The church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has come under scrutiny after Abe's alleged assailant reportedly told investigators he harbored a grudge against the group due to his mother's massive donations, and believed that Abe had ties with it.