Report on sectarian aberrations in evangelical churches
The annual report of the interdepartmental mission of vigilance and the fight against sectarian aberrations (Miviludes), published on April 8, 2025, highlights a worrying increase in the reports linked to abusive practices in certain evangelical churches in France.
This phenomenon, although marginal within the global evangelical current, arouses a high interest due to its social and legal implications.
The reports mainly concern churches not affiliated with recognized federations such as the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) or the Protestant Federation of France (FPF).
These dissident communities are often directed by self -proclaimed pastors or organized structures. Among the practices denounced are abusive financial collections, aggressive proselytism, and spiritual abuses such as psychological grip and mental manipulation.
Since 2015, reports have increased by 110 %, reaching 4,571 cases in 2024. This increase is attributed to increased vigilance of the authorities and to awareness of the public in the face of the dangers of sectarian aberrations.
The drifts take various forms, in particular the theology of prosperity which encourages the faithful to give significant sums in exchange for promises of material blessings, practices of collective or individual exorcism, as well as abuses of power by certain religious leaders.
Read : New report finds 174% increase in attacks on US churches
Spiritual abuses are not limited to France.
In the United States, several surveys have revealed similar abuses in certain evangelical churches. For example, Pastor Alan Scott was accused of psychological manipulation and grip on his congregation. The accusations include narcissistic behavior and financial abuses.
In Canada, although less publicized, the country faces isolated cases of spiritual abuse in certain evangelical communities. The reports mainly concern coercive practices and financial manipulations within independent churches.
In South Africa, the Kwasizabantu church was implicated for serious abuses such as forced virginity tests and physical violence. These practices highlight the extent of the problem in certain regions where evangelical churches operate without strict regulatory framework.
The Mivérudes report constitutes a serious alert on sectarian aberrations within evangelical churches. If the majority of communities remain respectful of the legal framework, it is essential to strengthen the regulation mechanisms to protect vulnerable faithful.
Internationally, this problem requires increased cooperation to prevent abuses and guarantee religious freedom while respecting fundamental rights.
Read : Alert: 23,000 Canadian churches threatened with losing their status
Sources:
L’Express: sectarian drifts in the evangelical movement
Gendinfo: Miviludes 2025 report
Stop abuse: spiritual abuse in evangelical circles
Le Parisien: evangelical churches and sectarian drifts
Christian info: CNEF reactions in the face of drifts
Gempi: Analysis on evangelical churches
Christianity today: Kwasizabantu investigation
Mivinudes official website: activity report 2022-2024
