The Words of the Durst Family
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The Words of the Durst Family |
The Human Values Recognition Committee honored Father with its international award, recognizing him as having done the most in 1980 for the betterment of mankind, specifically for his contributions toward the promotion and restoration of human values.
The Committee is composed of Hispanic leaders in the New York area. Past recipients of its international awards included Juan Carlos, king of Spain, and 'Terence Cardinal Cooke.
The fifth annual presentation was made on December 19, 1980 and broadcast on a Spanish television station in New York and on Mexican national television the following day. Dr. Durst received the award on behalf of Father.
The Committee gave Father the following tribute:
The Board of Directors of the Human Values Recognition Committee has taken into consideration your dedication and multiple contributions to the achievement of lasting values. We are impressed that you and your followers have been able to create in a short period of time the Unification Theological Seminary, the International Conference for the Unity of the Sciences, the International One World Crusade, the International Leadership Seminar, the Freedom Leadership Foundation, the Performing Arts of the Unification Movement, the Little Angels School of Dance, the World Media Conference, Project Volunteer, the Professors Peace Academy, The News World Communications, Inc., with its two dailies, to mention only a few. These activities are a healthy and positive alternative to the work being carried out by the ideologies of conflict. We see your work as a significant step toward uplifting peace and happiness of mankind.
We would like to thank you for your contributions to the Latin American countries, in particular for the relief programs to the Dominican Republic during last year's disaster, where you sent tons of food and medicine.
We are especially grateful for your opening Noticias del Mundo as a voice for the Latin American countries, a defender of the minorities, and a champion of freedom and human values.
Dr. Mose Durst, President of the Unification Church, and four other distinguished citizens were honored December 11, 1980 for their outstanding contribution to humanitarian ideas and world peace at a United Nations reception hosted by Ambassador Jose Chavez, who represents the Organization of Spanish-Speaking Nations (29 countries) to the United Nations.
In awarding Dr. Durst the Order of Law, Culture, and Peace on behalf of the Mexican Academy of International Law, Chavez "spoke from [his] heart, thankful to God to be able to honor" a man he acclaimed as a "poet, a man of letters, a distinguished scholar," and a "man who has dedicated his life to the service of others in the most extraordinary way, in prison reform in Pennsylvania, as a devout servant of God, and as President of the Unification Church."
Dr. Durst responded that he received the honor "as a spur to greater service. Law, culture, and peace are all centered on a heart of love and a desire to serve. I pray that expression of that love through law, culture, and peace can be stimulated through this event."
Ambassador Luis de Sevilla, President of the Academy, officiated at the elegant black tie affair. He introduced the award ceremony by explaining that "we are here to perform an act of justice -- to honor men who have contributed to end discrimination and prejudice of all kinds, and thus significantly support world peace."
Recognized with Dr. Durst were Grayson Kirk, President Emeritus of Columbia University; Robert B. Anderson, Secretary of the Treasury under the Eisenhower administration; Jacques Pierrot, an industrialist; and Francis Plimpton, past U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
The Mexican Academy of International Law was established over 150 years ago. It is the oldest academy of its kind in the world and recognizes the most important people in international law. Among its members have been many statesmen, presidents and foreign ministers, especially from Latin America, as well as such secretary-generals of the United Nations as Dag Hammarskjold, U Thant, and Kurt Waldheim.