On November 22, the National Civil Court number 44 of CABA issued a ruling in the case initiated by Cecilia Califano against the Reverend Nakayama and Nichiren Shoshu.
The judge acknowledged that Califano had not proven the alleged sexual abuse she said she had suffered, nor any material or psychological damage. However, he ordered compensation of one million pesos for spiritual damage for an alleged “abuse of power,” for the sole reason that the accused is a priest. He did so based on an arbitrary reading of WhatsApp messages, and without considering the abundant evidence presented in favor of the Reverend Nakayama or the fact that Califano refused to take a psychological expert test, for example.
The ruling lacks solid legal grounds and is not based on evidence or proof in the file.
The Reverend Nakayama and The Nichiren Shoshu have appealed to the Civil Court to revoke the ruling, as it is unfounded and arbitrary. The ruling is not based on any proven facts. Being a spiritual leader or a cult leader does not in itself imply any manipulation or harassment. Even the messages used by the Judge demonstrate the Reverend’s delicacy and care in his words and dealings with the plaintiff and all believers.
The ruling also rejects the counterclaim (countersuit) of the Reverend Nakayama against Califano for the damage she caused with her slander, libel, slander and harassment campaigns, saying that they have not been proven, which contradicts abundant evidence gathered in the file.
We trust that the Civil Court will reverse this unjust decision, recognizing the innocence of the Reverend Nakayama and the reckless conduct of Ms. Califano.