Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 68
Moon Church Accused of Narcotics Operations
A Paraguayan politician says that the two chief interests of the Unification Church [UC] in
the country are ―control of the largest fresh water drinking source in the world and control
of the narcotics business.‖ Sen. Domingo Laino points to the church‘s purchase of large
areas on both sides of the Paraguay-Brazil border and the ―takeover‖ of a number of towns
in the region.
The area is one through which much of the drug trade of Peru and Bolivia passes, and it
contains the Guarani aquifer, over which the UC leader, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, wants
to build an ecological paradise. The UC has also become involved in various schemes
elsewhere in South America, where it has set up media and industrial outlets and sought to
gain political influence. (Seamus Mirodan, European Intelligence Wire in the Irish Times,
Internet, 10/14/04)
Moon Campus Group Seeks Charter
The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, an arm of the Rev. Sun Myung
Moon’s Unification Church, has applied a second time for a Student Association charter at
Binghamton University [of the State University of New York]. The organization ―has
garnered some infamy in years past for its often controversial practices and beliefs. ..They
have also been said to conduct mass prearranged weddings, and there are contested
allegations against them of kidnappings and brainwashing on CARP retreats.‖ (Michelle
Cornett, Binghamton University Pipe Dream, Internet, 1/4/05)
Moon-Linked Tourism Raises Israeli Concern
Israelis involved in counter-missionary work are concerned that a Unification Church
program has brought in some 10,000 pilgrims and tourists from 190 countries — at a time
when visitor numbers are diminished due to the Middle East conflict. They are concerned
because the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace was created by a
man whose church allegedly ―brainwashes its members into giving up their lives,
disconnecting ties with family members, and proselytizing for Rev. Moon.‖ (Gail Lichtman,
Jerusalem Post, 2/6/05)
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG)
Manipulation for Cash
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), a Brazil-based evangelical group,
is being criticized in Mexico for promising miracles in return for cash donations from
parishioners. ―They [the UCKG] work on people‘s despair and their message is very effective
in poor sectors,‖ says Elio Masferrer, an expert in Latin American religions. ―It‘s an
organization structured to make money. Its growth has been meteoric.‖
In addition to regular donations, ministers urge congregants to give more money, saying
God might then be moved to help save a dying loved-one, find a job, or bind a broken
marriage. Says one: ―My boyfriend ran off and married another woman. Ever since, I suffer.
I cry. I can‘t sleep. I want God to bring me peace. I'm unemployed, but if I find a job I'll
give a lot. A good service makes you want to give everything you have."
Responding to government investigations to see whether the UCKG conforms to regulations
for religious groups, the church says it‘s being ―persecuted like Jesus was.‖ Founded by Edir
Macedo in 1977, UCKG, which has been probed in Britain and ―blacklisted‖ in France, owns
a leading Brazilian TV network, a bank, newspapers, and radio stations. A 1995 video shows
Macedo teaching pastors how to raise cash and telling them that stingy people could ―go to
hell.‖ (Catherine Bremer, Reuters, 1/19/05)
Moon Church Accused of Narcotics Operations
A Paraguayan politician says that the two chief interests of the Unification Church [UC] in
the country are ―control of the largest fresh water drinking source in the world and control
of the narcotics business.‖ Sen. Domingo Laino points to the church‘s purchase of large
areas on both sides of the Paraguay-Brazil border and the ―takeover‖ of a number of towns
in the region.
The area is one through which much of the drug trade of Peru and Bolivia passes, and it
contains the Guarani aquifer, over which the UC leader, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, wants
to build an ecological paradise. The UC has also become involved in various schemes
elsewhere in South America, where it has set up media and industrial outlets and sought to
gain political influence. (Seamus Mirodan, European Intelligence Wire in the Irish Times,
Internet, 10/14/04)
Moon Campus Group Seeks Charter
The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, an arm of the Rev. Sun Myung
Moon’s Unification Church, has applied a second time for a Student Association charter at
Binghamton University [of the State University of New York]. The organization ―has
garnered some infamy in years past for its often controversial practices and beliefs. ..They
have also been said to conduct mass prearranged weddings, and there are contested
allegations against them of kidnappings and brainwashing on CARP retreats.‖ (Michelle
Cornett, Binghamton University Pipe Dream, Internet, 1/4/05)
Moon-Linked Tourism Raises Israeli Concern
Israelis involved in counter-missionary work are concerned that a Unification Church
program has brought in some 10,000 pilgrims and tourists from 190 countries — at a time
when visitor numbers are diminished due to the Middle East conflict. They are concerned
because the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace was created by a
man whose church allegedly ―brainwashes its members into giving up their lives,
disconnecting ties with family members, and proselytizing for Rev. Moon.‖ (Gail Lichtman,
Jerusalem Post, 2/6/05)
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG)
Manipulation for Cash
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), a Brazil-based evangelical group,
is being criticized in Mexico for promising miracles in return for cash donations from
parishioners. ―They [the UCKG] work on people‘s despair and their message is very effective
in poor sectors,‖ says Elio Masferrer, an expert in Latin American religions. ―It‘s an
organization structured to make money. Its growth has been meteoric.‖
In addition to regular donations, ministers urge congregants to give more money, saying
God might then be moved to help save a dying loved-one, find a job, or bind a broken
marriage. Says one: ―My boyfriend ran off and married another woman. Ever since, I suffer.
I cry. I can‘t sleep. I want God to bring me peace. I'm unemployed, but if I find a job I'll
give a lot. A good service makes you want to give everything you have."
Responding to government investigations to see whether the UCKG conforms to regulations
for religious groups, the church says it‘s being ―persecuted like Jesus was.‖ Founded by Edir
Macedo in 1977, UCKG, which has been probed in Britain and ―blacklisted‖ in France, owns
a leading Brazilian TV network, a bank, newspapers, and radio stations. A 1995 video shows
Macedo teaching pastors how to raise cash and telling them that stingy people could ―go to
hell.‖ (Catherine Bremer, Reuters, 1/19/05)
