Akronism: Difference between revisions

Because the Church administers all Acronian social programs, in order to receive these benefits, one must be a member of the Church in good standing, and therefore accept the Church's significant rules on personal and moral conduct. It is in this capacity that the Church of Akrona draws the most criticism. Foreign citizens resident in Acronis are not able to access unemployment insurance, pensions, or even food or housing assistance unless they join the Church, and must either pay out of pocket for medical care or purchase private healthcare insurance, which only exists in a very limited capacity in Acronis. Residents who hold other religious faiths, or no faith, are similarly restricted, even if they were born in Acronis. And most controversially, while non-members of the Church cannotare technically permitted to participate in the criminal justice system without a Church "sponsor." Only the sponsor, aatheists member in good standing, may file charges on behalf ofand aother non-member,Akronists evenhave incomplained casesfor ofyears majorthat crimes suchreported asby sexualthem assaultgo orunanswered murder.by InChurch casesauthorities, whereor the victimauthorities isdeliberately alive,procrastinate Churchor rulesotherwise requiredelay theaddressing victimatheist toand attendnon-Akronist religiouscomplaints. services in orderPrior to keepthe theirlate sponsor19th century, thoughnon-Akronists strictlycould speaking,not areparticipate notin "requiredthe tolegal publiclysystem professat belief inall, or even personally believe, in the tenetscases of thesexual Church"assault inor orderattempted to maintain sponsorshipmurder. The sponsorshipChurch program,changed while itself a compromisethis instituted in the late 19th centurypolicy in the face of significant social backlash, and continues to face sustained criticism from non-members of the Church domestically and internationally, as well as from members of the Church itself.