Your July 5 front page article on the family of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon is filled with mistakes about the Unification Church, which I would like to correct.

First, the East Garden and Belvedere properties serve as conference centers, prayer and worship facilities and guest housing, as well as housing for our founders and their family. A staff of some 50 people maintain the properties, a modest number considering size and usage. Most of the staff live off the properties, have children in the local schools and love and desire to contribute to Westchester.

It is not a "compound"; it is not a "private world behind gates and walls." There are no guard dogs. The "private hairdresser" is one of the neighbors who likes to cut hair. "Fawning followers" may refer to relatives doting on newborns and toddlers, but to little else. In all these and more, staff writer Bill Varner's depictions reflect bias.

Second, allegations of the misuse of church funds to support lavish lifestyles are simple false. Our church is strict with fund usage and has an independent audit annually. Money raised through fundraising, whether in Westchester or anywhere, is used strictly for tax-exempt, nonprofit purposes, nothing for the private inurement of Rev. Moon's family or anyone else. We do not provide money to Rev. Moon's family. All the adult offspring who live on church property pay rent. Herbert Rosedale, I am confident, knows this perfectly well, as he knows that the 1983 imprisonment of Rev. Moon over taxes was a travesty of justice.

Third, there is no upheaval, major or minor, in the church. In fact, we have just celebrated a high point of our work in America, "Blessing '98" at Madison Square Garden. Rev. Moon's work in South America marks his commitment to the unity of Christianity, Catholic and Protestant, and to the development of South America's beautiful natural environment.

The Family Federation, inaugurated in 1994, is a nonsectarian effort to revitalize the family worldwide. It is a much-needed vehicle transcending religious and racial barriers for the sake of the common cause of saving the family.

Finally, while no one is ever happy about anything's family problems, the Unification Church is a mature organization with a stable vision and commitment to make this world a better place. The fact that Rev. Moon's family encounters some of the same problems confronting virtually all American families does not diminish the core teaching of his church, that all families should strive toward the ideal of becoming a "true family."

We are linking arms with churches around New York and across America to do something about everyone's family problems, beyond race, color or creed. Perhaps your newspaper wanted to remind readers of how difficult it is to build the ideal. No matter the difficulties, we are keeping our eyes on the prize, and we know that together with all people of faith and good will, we will meet with success.

Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Copyright Information
Tparents Home