The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France - Reception

Reception

The church was not mentioned in the list of dangerous cults in the reports established by the Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France in 1995 and 1999. As there was no complaints from former members, the MILS deemed in 2000 that the church is "a religious group that does not generate problems in France". In its 2001 report, it stated that "seeing the definition of cultic nature of an association by the exclusive examination of its behavior in the light of human rights and public policy (...) the LDS Church shouldn't be considered as a cult". However, in its 2006 report, the MIVILUDES expressed a concern about the Calvin Thomas society, specialized in organizing linguistic travels, "as children has been placed in LDS families. The file of this society (...) is the subject of an investigation".

In its periodical, anti-cult association ADFI stated that it is "regularly contacted by families or individuals facing conflictual and painful situations because of the membership of a relative into this movement". Criticisms include methods of evangelization, progressive split with family and friends, women status, lack of free thought and children education considered as indoctrination. The ADFI of Lille deemed that "it is unhelpful to try to classify this church as cults or non-cult" and that "the likelihood is high that the genealogy becomes a major means of mormon proselytizing". It also describes the English courses offered by the church as "disguised way to recruit new followers". To ADFI president Catherine Picard, the LDS church was "a movement with cultic deviances". As for Marie Drilhon of Yvelines ADFI, she publicely said that the Mormon religion is "a demanding church for the faithful", described some cases of pressure under former members so that they return into the church, and considered that "people who are more fragile don't do well in this church."