Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 137
Orphan Assistance
The International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) [an arm of the Unification Church] has
established a ―long-distance adoption system‖ for Zambian orphans. The organization‘s
director in charge of HIV/AIDS prevention and ―character education‖ in Zambia, Adamson
Musonda, said the orphans would be placed with American families until they complete their
educations. He added that IIFWP has built a community school for orphans in Zambia.
(Times of Zambia, Internet, 4/29/04)
Chile Denies Legal Status
The Chilean government has denied legal status to the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s
Unification Church, saying the organization ―injures the political stability of the democratic
system that governs the nation‖ and promotes conflict among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches. In Chile for 28 years, the church has been accused of human rights
violations and questionable financial dealings. A government legal advisor said the church is
―profoundly anticommunist and xenophobic, with a marked Nazi inspiration.‖ (EFE News
Service via Country Watch, Internet, 6/7/04)
U.S. House Member Helps Crown Moon
Illinois Republican Congressman Danny K. Davis helped present a crown that was then
placed on the head of Unification Church leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon
symbolizing that he and his wife are the ―true parents‖ of mankind during a March
banquet mounted by the church at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.
Davis explained: ―I was attempting to provide an accolade to the Rev. Moon and his wife for
promoting visions of world peace,‖ as well as for their ―visions of family structure. ..It had
nothing to do with religion. I am a practicing Baptist.‖
The church claims that numerous House members and Senators were involved in the event,
but calls to their offices found that all but Davis want nothing further to do with the Rev.
Moon or his ―cult-like‖ church. A source says some legislators attended the banquet without
knowing its sponsorship. ―There was a mass exodus from the event as soon as folks realized
that it was a Rev. Moon event.‖ (Lee Penn, The Christian Challenge, Internet, 6/15/04)
Finally Accepted in Gloucester
After 25 years in Gloucester, MA, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church is
accepted. Now, few people talk about the church, its businesses, or its members. ―The fear
of recruitment of our kids never materialized, and members of the church seem to have
assimilated well into the community,‖ says Mayor John Bell. The church core in town
consists of 11 families, and half the adults work for the church-owned True World Foods,
which owns, among other businesses, two marinas and one of the areas largest lobster
wholesale plants.
Member Joseph Kelley, 42, says: ―We‘re not as close-knit as we should be. It‘s not as tight
as when everyone was single. Everybody‘s working we‘ve got families we‘re doing
different things.‖
Former member Steven Hassan, who has written widely on the Unification Church, believes
Moon did not recruit locally because of the bad publicity generated by his extensive property
purchases in town. (Steven Rosenberg, Boston Globe, Internet, 6/27/04)
United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors
Compound Quiet
With the conviction of United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors leader Malachi York, the
group‘s compound in Putnam County, GA, is quiet, the federal government having seized
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