Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 72
sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison. The judge said: ―There was kind of a
dependence between the parents and the accused,‖ both personal and financial. This
explains the failure of the parents to voice their suspicions for such a long time, he added.
Spiritual abuse in certain Christian churches in the Sacramento area has been coming to
light lately. Karen Sapp told the Sacramento Bee that she allowed her North Highlands
pastor to control nearly every aspect of her life when he promised her she could change her
life through honor and service. One of the many church ministries she worked in involved
cooking meals for his family, in uniform, and calling him, his wife, and his children ―The First
Family.‖ ...
Christian talk radio host Eric Hogue says, ―It‘s incredible, the stories people are sharing. As
a Christian, it makes me mad that some so-called spiritual leaders use their position to
manipulate people. Unfortunately, this is going on more than people realize.‖ The transition
from being obedient to being controlled by church leaders is gradual, say experts, including
Jeff Van Vonderen, co-author of The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.
Unification Church leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon has published an autobiography, As a
Peace-Loving Global Citizen, which has drawn congratulations, according to the church-
owned Washington Times, from Sen. Joseph Lieberman, former secretary of state Alexander
Haig, and former president George H W Bush.
Following Moon‘s naming of his Harvard-educated son, Hyung Ji Moon, as president of the
World Unification Church, observers have speculated about the future of the organization.
Journalist Fred Clarkson says, ―Even with the passing from the scene of the man believed to
be the messiah, the more things change, the more they stay the same.‖ Journalist Robert
Parry says, ―I think the business aspects could be rather smoothly transferred. And with the
money goes the political influence. There is also something of ‗The Godfather‘ in this, as the
second generation may try to further sanitize the organization‘s history. That could make
the political influence-buying even safer, though it is hard to know whether the second
generation shares some of the right-wing politics of the elder Moon, even as that repressive
ideology is disguised under the happy-sounding phrase ‗world peace.‘ ‖ Hyung Ji Moon‘s
rethinking of the church‘s marriage policy, suggesting a move away from mass marriages
among members, and the introduction of popular Christian music in church services,
―appears to be aimed at making the church less idiosyncratic and more acceptable to the
public,‖ says Parry. ...
The church continues to support, and to gain the support of, the conservative movement in
the US. The Washington Times and the Heritage Foundation recently launched
TheConcervatives.com, a website that, according to its executive editor, ―creates a cutting
edge new marriage between the social publishing world of bloggers and the social
networking of Twitter, YouTube, and the like. ..Most opinion sites today enable thought-
leaders to talk down to the masses, but TheConservative.com empowers users to change
the direction of that dialog, allowing the Joe the Plumbers of the world to speak up to major
thinkers like Newt Gingrich.‖ ...
In his blog of 11/12/09, Rory O‘Connor, director of the 1992 PBS Frontline film on the
subject, documents Sun Myun Moon‘s campaign—employing media, money, and the
promotion of a conservative agenda—to influence American politics and foreign policy and
deflect criticism. O‘Connor highlights the role of the UC-owned Washington Times and
various other publishing endeavors. ―Moon looked on the media,‖ says O‘Connor, ―as almost
the nervous system for a global empire. Moon was the brain, and the media are to be, or
were to be, the communications vehicle for his body politic surrounding the globe.‖ Having
spent over $1 billion in the effort, Moon said: ―Now, whether positively or negatively,
America knows me—and it happened quickly. At least I have America‘s attention. Because
sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison. The judge said: ―There was kind of a
dependence between the parents and the accused,‖ both personal and financial. This
explains the failure of the parents to voice their suspicions for such a long time, he added.
Spiritual abuse in certain Christian churches in the Sacramento area has been coming to
light lately. Karen Sapp told the Sacramento Bee that she allowed her North Highlands
pastor to control nearly every aspect of her life when he promised her she could change her
life through honor and service. One of the many church ministries she worked in involved
cooking meals for his family, in uniform, and calling him, his wife, and his children ―The First
Family.‖ ...
Christian talk radio host Eric Hogue says, ―It‘s incredible, the stories people are sharing. As
a Christian, it makes me mad that some so-called spiritual leaders use their position to
manipulate people. Unfortunately, this is going on more than people realize.‖ The transition
from being obedient to being controlled by church leaders is gradual, say experts, including
Jeff Van Vonderen, co-author of The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.
Unification Church leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon has published an autobiography, As a
Peace-Loving Global Citizen, which has drawn congratulations, according to the church-
owned Washington Times, from Sen. Joseph Lieberman, former secretary of state Alexander
Haig, and former president George H W Bush.
Following Moon‘s naming of his Harvard-educated son, Hyung Ji Moon, as president of the
World Unification Church, observers have speculated about the future of the organization.
Journalist Fred Clarkson says, ―Even with the passing from the scene of the man believed to
be the messiah, the more things change, the more they stay the same.‖ Journalist Robert
Parry says, ―I think the business aspects could be rather smoothly transferred. And with the
money goes the political influence. There is also something of ‗The Godfather‘ in this, as the
second generation may try to further sanitize the organization‘s history. That could make
the political influence-buying even safer, though it is hard to know whether the second
generation shares some of the right-wing politics of the elder Moon, even as that repressive
ideology is disguised under the happy-sounding phrase ‗world peace.‘ ‖ Hyung Ji Moon‘s
rethinking of the church‘s marriage policy, suggesting a move away from mass marriages
among members, and the introduction of popular Christian music in church services,
―appears to be aimed at making the church less idiosyncratic and more acceptable to the
public,‖ says Parry. ...
The church continues to support, and to gain the support of, the conservative movement in
the US. The Washington Times and the Heritage Foundation recently launched
TheConcervatives.com, a website that, according to its executive editor, ―creates a cutting
edge new marriage between the social publishing world of bloggers and the social
networking of Twitter, YouTube, and the like. ..Most opinion sites today enable thought-
leaders to talk down to the masses, but TheConservative.com empowers users to change
the direction of that dialog, allowing the Joe the Plumbers of the world to speak up to major
thinkers like Newt Gingrich.‖ ...
In his blog of 11/12/09, Rory O‘Connor, director of the 1992 PBS Frontline film on the
subject, documents Sun Myun Moon‘s campaign—employing media, money, and the
promotion of a conservative agenda—to influence American politics and foreign policy and
deflect criticism. O‘Connor highlights the role of the UC-owned Washington Times and
various other publishing endeavors. ―Moon looked on the media,‖ says O‘Connor, ―as almost
the nervous system for a global empire. Moon was the brain, and the media are to be, or
were to be, the communications vehicle for his body politic surrounding the globe.‖ Having
spent over $1 billion in the effort, Moon said: ―Now, whether positively or negatively,
America knows me—and it happened quickly. At least I have America‘s attention. Because
