Introduction to Email

Many UNews readers are familiar with "the nets," namely electronic mail through (computer) on-line networks. I believe this development to be part of God's providence insofar as the nets make available to the word of God yet another excellent vehicle. While traces of evil persist en route to a fully recovered Eden, however, one must always exercise prudence. Material in the nets becomes available both to those who would be inspired or edified by your postings, and to those who either through ignorance or bad intentions might misconstrue carelessly presented thoughts.

I'm on a good list in which the following inquiry turned up. I include here both the inquiry and my response, in case these may be helpful. E-Mail From Roger E. Olson.

Earlier I posted a query regarding Unification Church beliefs about Rev. Sun Myung Moon as "Lord of the Second Advent." I was gratified with the openness and honesty of the answers. I conclude that "Yes, the Unification Church believes and teaches that Rev. Sun Myung Moon is the world messiah, the second coming of Christ, the Lord of the Second Advent."

Now, I have a second question. In the June 14, 1976 issue, "Time" published a series of statements which Rev. Moon supposedly made to an inner core of followers. These were (I assume) recorded and reported by New York Daily News reporter John Cotter who infiltrated the Unification Church in 1975 and wrote a series of articles on his experiences for that newspaper. (I have a version of one of his articles from another newspaper.) John Cotter and Time magazine reported Rev. Moon as saying "The whole world is in my hands. I will conquer and subjugate the world." They also reported him as talking about getting his followers elected to Congress, etc., in order to accomplish this goal.

My question is very simple: Is it the belief of the Unification Church or of a large number of members that Rev. Moon ought to take over and rule America and possibly the world? Is a political theocracy a goal of the Unification church? Please answer as clearly, honestly and forthrightly as possible. Thanks. Roger

I responded:

I am a twenty year member of Reverend Moon's Unification Church. Reverend Moon does not use power-oriented language in his speeches such as "the world is in my hands," or "I will conquer and subjugate the world."

Reverend Moon teaches, and Unificationists believe that sooner or later, whether it be in 10 years or a thousand years, all human beings will naturally seek of their own accord to come into the world of God's boundless love, and live as constructive citizens in a world designed to provide each person full opportunity to achieve his or her God given potential. In this scheme of things, the Moon's are seen as the first human beings to fully mediate and embody God's parental love as a couple. Thus their mission is identified as that of the "True Parents." For this reason Unificationists believe that (again sooner or later) all human beings will eventually feel a real fondness, appreciation and even love for the Moon's, as the ones who pioneered the embodiment true parental love. Anticipating this eventuality is incongruous with notions like conquering and subjugating.

The operative means for the accomplishment of any stated goal among Unificationists, in fact the essence of Unification piety, is consistent, unconditional, self-sacrificial love, summarized in our teachings as "life for the sake of others." This is as true for the Moon's, as it is for Unification members who follow their teaching and example.

It is true that Reverend Moon has encouraged members who feel the call, and who feel they have sufficient talent and qualifications, to pursue public office. But he has not encouraged this direction any more than he has encouraged others of us to become scholars, ship builders, preachers, professional athletes, ballerinas and so forth. Any encouragement of his students to seek elected office is not so that they pursue world dominion or the establishment of a theocracy, but rather so that they do good in the world.

The term theocracy offends the Unificationist imagination when reflecting on potential political structures for an ideal world. A better working category for someone sincerely trying to understand Unification impulses would be something like "theonomous democracy," or a "theo-familial democracy." The notion here is that each person as a member of a family (consisting of grandparents, parents, and children) perfects and comes to embody divine love through the interpersonal dynamics that naturally occur in a loving family. Each person comes to experience and embody the full range of available "true loves"; children for parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters for one-another, husband and wife for one another, parents for children, and grand parents for children and grandchildren. In the ideal, God is present in such families, and as a result each family and its individual members participate in and contribute to a harmonious democratic society, itself modeled on the ideal of loving a loving family. The difference between democracy in the ideal and the current manifestation of democracy is implied in Reverend Moon's teaching that current attempts at equality are based on brotherism, whereas future establishment of equality will be based on parentism.

The wellspring of political authority in the Kingdom of Heaven imagined by Unificationists is somehow a cross between the type of authority parents exert over a happy family, and the role the central nervous system plays in the vital and energetic functioning of a healthy human body. These metaphors are no secret. They are found in paragraph 2, p. 46 of the Divine Principle, the core teachings of Reverend Moon, which has been widely distributed in America since the early 1970's, and which should be available in any self-respecting American library. I am afraid that John Cotter's exciting, spy-like "infiltration" of the Unification Church happened nowhere but in his own mind. I hope this is helpful.

International Second Generation Workshop

by Matthew Jones-Williamstown, MA

The month of August marked the first-ever international blessed children's workshop. Initiated by Hyo Jin Hyung Nim, the purpose of the workshop was to create a worldwide foundation of unity among the blessed children centering on True Family.

The workshop participants, who came from Korea, America, Europe and Japan, spent the first week in the New Yorker. There we listened to special guest lectures and had group discussions about the situation of blessed children in each country. Then we traveled across the country in vans, eventually flying to Alaska to spend ten wonderful days with True Parents.

Throughout the workshop the True Family showered us with blessing. Father spoke to us four times. He spoke a lot about the blessing and emphasized staying pure. Father spoke very openly about the man's and woman's body and explained how the sexual organ is the center of the universe. Father also asked the Western sisters who could speak Korean, and told them that he is going to match them to Koreans. True Parents then had each person introduce him- and herself and say who their parents were. Then Mother gave each one of us a custom-made Kodiak tee-shirt. As Father was speaking and Mother was there with us listening, I felt that this was really my Father speaking to us as his children. Not only did Father and Mother spend long hours with us, speaking and fishing, but several elder members of the True Family came to share their hearts with us while in New York. Although Hyo Jin Hyung Nim was extremely busy and not in good health, he came and spoke to us four times. At the end of the New York segment, Hyo Jin Hyung Nim invited us to Manhattan Center, where he put on an intense rock and roll concert for us and gave each of us a personally-signed copy of his latest album, "The Pit." In Jin Nim and Jin Sung Hyung Nim sponsored a Yute tournament with large money prizes, and the next day they each came and shared their hearts and personal experiences with us. Hyun Jin Hyung Nim also invited all 64 participants to his company building where he spent the whole day with us-speaking to us, buying us pizza, and singing with us. Hyun Jin Hyung Nim would pick individuals and groups to sing and give big prizes to the group with the most energy and excitement. At the end, Hyun Jin Hyung Nim even got up and sang for us. Also, Kook Jin Hyung Nim invited us to East Garden, where he spoke to us and had each person introduce him- or herself.

Everyone was moved and inspired by all the love True Family gave to us. Their main message to us was that the second generation must become responsible people of true love centered on True Parents and work to bring about the ideal world in True Parents' lifetime.

During the trip cross-country, everyone grew much closer to one another. Although we came from different parts of the world, we did not let the language barrier prevent us from getting to know one another. For instance, the Koreans knew many fun games that we could all play in the van, regardless of language. We also all followed the Korean tradition of calling our elders "hyung" (older brother) and "nuna" (older sister). Little things like this helped us to come closer as brothers and sisters. Although it was hard to communicate deeply in words, by the end there was an incredible bond of love that was created through the communication of the heart.

Once we got to Alaska, Father had a very difficult schedule planned for us. We would wake up at 4:30am and receive a lecture, usually by Rev. Zin Moon Kim, until 7:30am. Then from 8:30am to 6pm we went fishing. Fishing was very challenging. We would be standing up almost all day and sometimes the fish would never bite; it became very frustrating. However, when I finally caught a fish, I learned that if you have the right purpose and motivation, at the end of every hard road there will be a great reward. After returning, we would eat and shower and then receive another lecture from 8pm to 11:30pm. The fishing, combined with the long hours of lecture and little sleep, was very challenging to all of us. However, I was very grateful for this experience because I felt through it, Father wanted us to inherit his tradition, or as he called it, "The Kodiak Spirit." This spirit is what pushes us to overcome our bodies and difficulties to attain our goal and offer it happily to Heavenly Father.

The workshop was a success overall. Everyone came much closer to True Family and to one another. A foundation was created to unite the blessed children all around the world and prepare ourselves to bring great victories to True Parents in the future.

How I Found God's Heart

by Heide Schibelius

When I was first witnessed to, I listened because I wanted to know more about God. During that same time I had experienced loneliness for the first time, which led me to the conclusion that the most important thing that makes life worth living is relationships with other people. I also realized that, because there will always be people who need to be taken care of, it's up to me if I will be lonely in the future or not.

When I heard the lectures, I learned that God, too, wants to have a relationship with us, and even with me. During my first weekend workshop, God actually showed that to me very vividly at the Sunday morning service.

This is now it happened: after I had heard the first lectures on Saturday, I realized that I needed to find out if God does exist. I had always believed it, but I had never been sure. This time I really wanted to know! With that in mind, I went to sleep that night. During the following morning service, I was sitting in the front row with the city leader of my town next to me. The music was beautiful, and next to the podium was a small window through which I could see the green leaves on the branches of a tree outside.

Then, one person came up to the front to pray. I don't remember the words he spoke, but I remember the feelings they provoked within me. From deep inside of me grew a wave of emotion almost overwhelming me, bringing tears to my eyes. It was like saying "I am so glad that you are coming back to me," these are about the words which would express that emotion, and my mind was saying, "Father!...Father!" But I could not let the person next to me see the tears in my eyes; I was too proud at that time. In fact, I didn't want anyone to know that I was moved so much. So I tried to suppress the tears and keep them inside, which turned out to become rather difficult, because right after that prayer the organ was playing such beautiful music that the emotion grew stronger as long as the organ was playing. I felt as if my head was going to burst any minute, but the music just stopped on time. After the service I dismissed this experience as "just sentimentalism."

It took me almost a whole year after that workshop to join the church, and I did so because the Principle made sense to me. I thought, "This is truth, and probably the only way to really change the world, even though it may take a long time."

Unification Thought on Heart

After I joined the church I started asking people how to pray and what they experienced when they prayed, since prayer is communication with God and I did want to establish a relationship with Him. I never had an experience like the one at that workshop again. Only years later I realized that it was God somehow finding a way to get through to me- only to be brushed aside by my intellect. But I kept asking people about prayer, and each one gave me a different answer.

One time we had a prayer meeting outside in nature; we were praying in unison, each one of us trying to reach God. I only felt like I was talking to an empty darkness, as if there was a wide gap separating me from God. It just seemed hopeless. Then some time later I read one of Rev. Moon's quotes saying, "When you find your original self you will meet God." I couldn't quite figure out what that was to mean for me, and what I needed to do in order to accomplish that, but I kept it as my goal and I never stopped asking questions in my mind (to God, that is) and to people.

Then I found the book "Explaining Unification Thought," by Sang Hun Lee, which turned out to be very inspiring to read, because it explains the "Ideal of Creation" in more detail than the "Unification Principle" book does.

I like to quote from "Unification Thought" about Heart.

The world "Heart" can be used in both a general and in a special meaning. In its general meaning, Heart corresponds to "feeling", "emotion", "affection" or "deep (sincere) mind." In its special meaning (unique to Unification Principle and Unification Thought), Heart is "the emotional impulse to seek joy through love-through loving or through being loved."

The impulse to obtain joy through love wells up from the bottom of the mind, and it is irrepressible. If repressed, it will find a different way to manifest itself. Children, for instance, have the impulse to be loved by their parents; if they are not, they may become nervous or even psychologically ill. They may choose to vent their frustrations on society, thus becoming delinquents." (Unif. Thought, pp. 21, 22, 105)

"Heart, the emotional impulse to seek joy, is causal, and emotions are resultant. Everyone acts, deep in his mind, according to the impulse of heart. One feels joyful or pleasant when his impulse of heart is fulfilled, and one feels sad or angry when it is not." (U. Tht., p. 22)

"Heart is man's deepest part; to develop and to improve it is his supreme task." (U.Th., p. 106)

God's Image in People

The Unification Principle says, "In order to understand God and get to know Him, we study His creation, especially humankind, the crowning perfection of His creative work...." [quotes from "Essentials of the Unification Principle"]

Humankind consists of a great variety of different people. What about a criminal, maybe even a murderer-where do you see God in him?-I asked. And I learned that in this case we may have to dig very deep into his personality to find "God's image" hidden deeply inside his heart, covered under layers of pain, hopelessness, resentment, anger, hatred...and more.

However, there are many people in whom God's image is a lot easier to detect. When I meet these kinds of people, my heart responds with joy, as I look in their eyes, see their smile and their response to whatever I approach them with. This is what inspires me to meet new people and to witness to them. The ones who have enough foundation are able to understand and to appreciate the Unification Principle. I believe that foundation is the love and guidance their parents or other close relatives were able to raise them with, and because of that they are able to love others as well. That means their hearts are already restored to a certain level, and emotionally they are pretty healthy in comparison to some other people.

The book "Essentials of the Unification Principle" says: "The universal experience of fallen people is frustration caused by their inability to experience the true love that every human being wants and seeks in life. The love relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives, have always fallen short of the ideal. This is because the patterns of human love are based on those established by the first man and woman. Imperfect love has been passed from generation to generation: children raised with inadequate love are unable to perfect their own love and consequently are not qualified to give true love to their children. Human love has been associated with fear and guilt instead of fulfillment and joy" (p. 74).

God worked in history through the Principle of Restoration to raise the moral standard in preparation for fallen men and women to receive and then emulate the true love of true parents. He also raised the level of understanding and the quality of human love, restoring human hearts step by step through generations by using religion. Christians, for instance, learn about God's love through Jesus' teaching and example. That was my foundation on which I could understand and accept the Unification Principle, though most of it was with my intellect. There was very little that touched my feelings in the beginning. Only over the years did the teaching sink deeper into my mind, gradually reaching deeper into my emotion.

Healthy Love

by Teri Lester

Have you ever wished that you knew a simple way to explain why people should abstain from sex?

Most of us can probably do a pretty good job of explaining about Adam and Eve and Original Sin, but what if you're talking to someone who doesn't believe in Adam and Eve? Or doesn't believe in Original Sin? Or doesn't even believe in God?

Last year, I started working with the Women's Federation for World Peace. I went to a few community leaders, and asked them what they thought WFWP could do to help. One of the statements in the pamphlets is "We hold that chastity before marriage and fidelity in marriage are desirable goals and will help re-direct our youth to more constructive and healthier lives."

Every person pointed to that statement and said "That's what we need." A couple of them went so far as to say, "That's really good, but nobody will ever do it."

Well, I considered that to be a direct challenge. I went to the library to study up on abstinence education, and found out there wasn't much there; just a few religious books and a lot of other books that had a paragraph or so about abstinence, usually saying, "Well, this would be nice, but don't expect anyone to actually do it."

I found that a bit puzzling. I had practiced abstinence quite successfully for many years, and I knew lots of other people who had. What made the difference?

Well, in most of the cases I knew, people had very clear reasons for abstaining, and just as important, lived a lifestyle that discouraged sexual activity outside of marriage. When you are rarely alone with someone of the opposite sex, when you tend to dress conservatively, when you don't go to places where it is convenient to have sex, and when you have a lot of other things to do and think about, you probably won't have sex.

I got some notes together, reserved a room at the local library, and started holding talks every three weeks or so. I sent out press releases to local media, and I got invited to be on TV a couple of times, and each time one or two people attended my talks.

In the beginning, I gave a sort of standard fire-and-brimstone type lecture, full of dire warnings about AIDS and diseases and death and doom. Apparently this is not so effective these days. People have access to CNN and thousands of cable channels, and they've already heard horrible statistics and dire warnings. Sex is such a desirable thing that people don't care; they're willing to risk just about anything.

Many people asked me if I could focus more on positive reasons for abstaining from sex. I realized also that I personally had never really responded well to a lot of threats and dire warnings. So, I started trying to figure out how to present abstinence in a positive way.

Over several months, my talks evolved into the program now called "Healthy Love." I was invited to speak to several high school classes, and in December I wrote a 30-page booklet to hand out at my talks, "Healthy Love: a step-by-step-method for practicing abstinence." In August, I completed the Healthy Love Presenters' Manual, an 86-page guide to learning and teaching Healthy Love.

What exactly is a positive approach to abstinence? How can you be positive about not doing something? You can't. I had to figure out, when we're not having sex, what are we doing?

The answer is: EVERYTHING! Why exactly do we abstain from sex? It's not because sex is bad, because eventually we do have sex, and when we are married, it's a good thing to have sex. The difference between married sex and premarital sex is maturity. We abstain from sex before marriage in order to develop our character, to grow to maturity, so that we are ready and able to make a lifelong commitment to one person, and build a marriage and family with them.

With that understanding, it becomes quite easy to promote abstinence in a very positive way, because then you're not taking something away, you're offering something really good.

Do you think people want to have sex? Or do they want the things that come with sex: love, affection, loyalty, generosity, security? Do you have to have sex to get these things from a relationship? No. The things that we want from a romantic relationship are the same things that we want from every relationship we have.

So, if what we want are love, affection, loyalty, generosity and security, what is the best way to get these things?

The short answer is, if you want to be loved, become a loving person yourself. Focus on developing your character, your ability to love, and you will naturally attract loving people to you. You will become the kind of person everyone wants to be friends with.

There is more to it than that, of course, and that is why the Healthy Love materials are available. The student booklet gives a basic overview of the program, and the Presenters' Manual goes into much more depth, with sections on teaching methods, public speaking, program development, and the crucial chapter on "Clarifying Your Feelings" with advice on how to get over the embarrassment/scariness of talking about sex in public.

Since the program started, I have sold or given away more than 500 booklets. People in 15 different states have ordered Healthy Love materials, and everyone who has used the books has gotten a very positive response. The booklets are very attractive, with assorted neon-colored covers and, with "Healthy" and "Love" in very big letters, they really draw attention!

Healthy Love is very simple. I use stories and examples much more than medical facts or statistics, so that the discussions can really come from the heart. The costs are low, and the time investment can be as much or as little as you wish. If you don't want to give public speeches, you can distribute the books -- one group that ordered booklets is using them for fundraising! No matter what you do, your community will benefit from your efforts.

For more information you can call me, Teri Lester, at (816) 241-1931. If you want to order the books, the manual is $8, and the student booklets are $2 each, or $1.25 each for 10-20 copies, or $1 each for 21 or more copies. There is no extra charge for shipping, but if you live in Kansas, please add sales tax. Mail your order with check payable to RUC Publications, 12736 West 110th Terrace, Overland Park, KS 66210.

Fund Your Child's College Tuition with a Ladder of Treasury Zero Coupon Bonds

by Garry Barker

For many new parents and grandparents, finding a way to fund their children's and grandchildren's future education expenses is a primary concern. College costs have risen at an average annual rate of 8% over the past ten years, and today's parents can count on a hefty bill for their children's college education in the future. In fact, at this rate, it could cost as much as $80,000 for a four-year public college education 17 years from now! How can parents and grandparents help meet these future education costs? One way to generate funds for college expenses is to invest in a ladder portfolio of U.S. Treasury Strips Zero Coupon Bonds. Here's why.

Safety and Certainty of Returns

U.S. Treasury Strips, commonly known as Fed Strips, are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. government-the highest level of credit quality available in a fixed-income investment. In addition to safety, Fed Strips also provide the buy-and-hold investor with a guaranteed rate of return. As with most Zero Coupon Bonds, Fed Strips are offered at a discount to their face value and pay no periodic interest over the life of the security. Instead, interest accumulates at the stated yield level, compounding toward full maturity value and eliminating reinvestment uncertainties. When Fed Strips are held to maturity, the difference between the discounted purchase price and their face value represents the return on investment.

Note: When Zero Coupon Bonds are purchased in taxable accounts, the accumulated interest, although not actually received until maturity, is subject to annual taxation as ordinary income. Also bear in mind that prior to maturity, the market value of Strips is, in general, significantly more volatile than interest-paying bonds.

Affordable and Flexible

Depending on the maturity of Fed Strips, the discounted purchase price can make this security very affordable. A Fed Strips maturing in 18 years can currently be purchased for a fraction of its $1,000 face value. What's more, Fed Strips are issued with February, May, August and November maturities of every year, extending out to 2021. This flexibility is appreciated by those investors looking to time the maturity of their bonds to coincide with their individual financial objectives. More important, the flexibility of this security makes it a good selection for ladder portfolios.

Fed Strips are Ideal for Ladder Portfolios

Building a ladder portfolio of Fed Strips is as easy as spreading the total dollar amount of your investment among a series of successive maturities. College planning investors can conveniently purchase a Fed Strips ladder with bonds scheduled to mature in August of each school year in the future when tuition payments are typically due. This method of investing provides an affordable, simple way to plan ahead.

Sample College Planning Ladder 
SCHOOL    YEAR   MATURITY MATURITY TODAY 
2011-2012 YEAR 1 08/15/11 $20,000  $6,011 
2012-2013 YEAR 2 08/15/12 $20,000  $5,565 
2013-2014 YEAR 3 08/15/13 $20,000  $5,125 
2014-2015 YEAR 4 08/15/14 $20,000  $4,773 
TOTALS:                   $80,000 $21,474

Assuming annual public college costs in seventeen years of $20,000, a four-year $80,000 college bill would cost only $21,474, if you invested toward these costs today through this hypothetical Fed Strips ladder portfolio. Note: Figures in this example are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect current rates.

Consider Gifting a Ladder of Zero Coupons to a Child

A convenient way to enhance the returns of Zeros earmarked for college funding is to establish a ladder portfolio within a special custodial account that, depending on your state of residence, satisfies the requirements of either the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA).

When funds are deposited in an UGMA or UTMA account, they constitute an irrevocable gift to your child. Under current law, a single parent may annually gift up to $10,000 per child ($20,000 annually for a married couple) without gift tax consequences.

Income earned by a minor generally carries certain tax advantages, including the exclusion of federal taxes on the first $600 of unearned income. The second $600 is taxed at the child's rate. Earnings by a child in excess of $1,200 are taxed at the parents' rate until the child is 14 years old, after which all such income is taxed at the child's rate.

Investors should consult their tax advisors about current UGMA and UTMA gifting requirements and discuss their tax situation before making any tax-related investment decisions.

Gary Barker, an Account Executive at Dean Witter, specializes in portfolio management, retirement planning and asset allocation. He can be contacted at 800-755-5203.

Chusok Celebration at East Garden

Reverend and Mrs. Moon traveled from Kodiak to East Garden last September 19, arriving home quite late at night and speaking to the gathered members until 1:30 in the morning. Among the topics of discussion was the recent gathering of international church leaders from 40 nations. Taking place in Kodiak in the month following the 20th anniversary of the Oceanic Providence (see UNews, August 1994), this conference introduced the spiritual and practical dimensions of Ocean Church on a worldwide scale. On the practical side, the church leaders received nautical instruction from local Coast Guard personnel. The Coast Guard was highly impressed with the spirit and enthusiasm of our church leaders.

At evening's end, Reverend Moon invited all of the hundred or more who were gathered to a celebration of chusok on the following morning. We were invited to bring with us our oldest and youngest children.

The following morning, September 20, was a happy and festive occasion. Chusok is a traditional Korean celebration which rivals New Year's day in its importance. It is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, on August 15, which is what we in the west would call the harvest moon, the last full moon of the summer. It is a period in modern Korea during which the highways are jammed with cars full of families returning to their ancestral hometowns. It is time of great family reunions, as all the extended family members go to the gravesite of their ancestral progenitors.

At the gravesites, offerings of fruit and flowers are made, and the ancestors are invited to join them in the family reunion. As this was explained to us by Mr. Peter Kim, director of the East Garden center, this is not ancestor worship, although Christian missionaries may have misinterpreted it as such. Venerable Korean tradition, indeed Oriental tradition in general, calls for honoring one's parents and grandparents. Naturally this extends to the parents of your grandparents, and so on back into history.

This tradition of filial piety is meant to comfort the ancestors, and extend gratitude for their having passed on the gift of life to this generation.

The celebration at East Garden this year was very simple. After the breakfast meal, each family was invited to take the microphone and introduce their children. Father said that in the introduction you should praise your children and make everyone very impressed with their heavenly character and great accomplishments. The introductions which followed took some two to three hours in all. Some were quite extended and detailed; others very brief, but through them all, Reverend and Mrs. Moon displayed an absolute interest and attentiveness. They seemed highly concerned about each family, and conveyed sympathy and, well, parental love to each family in turn.

The high point of humor was Mr. Tatao Sato, leader of Ocean Church, who went to a great deal of trouble to extricate from his pocket a sheaf of papers, find his written notes, and proudly inform everyone that his daughter is seventeen years old.

After the introductions came the singing. Korean traditional songs, Japanese songs and songs from around the world were shared. We could truly feel that even our ancestors were dancing together in the spirit world, with barriers of race, nation and religion melting away.

After sharing a lunch of quarter-pounders with cheese and Ginseng-Up, Reverend and Mrs. Moon took their leave. Before his departure, Reverend Moon announced that we will celebrate chusok as a Unification Church event every year.

Catholic Sex Education

by Haven Bradford Gow

The new issue of Mothers' Watch (Box 2780, Montgomery Village, Maryland 20886) provides a significant and devastating critique of Catholic sex education programs for school-age children. The article maintains that all too many sex education programs in Catholic schools really are similar or identical to amoral, secular humanistic, graphically explicit Planned Parenthood/SIECUS-type programs.

From the article we learn: that sex education often replaces religion in Catholic classrooms; that the underlying goal of sex education- including Catholic sex education-is changing the children's attitudes and values through a process called "values clarification"; that the "no right or wrong answers" approach, the use of journals and other privacy-invasive activities, are a component of a values-clarification conditioning process; that parenting classes going on all across the country are teaching parents to accept the children and their new attitudes and values; and that the students in public and private schools repeatedly are given writing assignments which delve into sexual issues, and give overly graphic details about events which are not only offensive but harmful to the sensibilities of school children.

In this connection, Pope John Paul II has stressed that schools-public and private-must respect and safeguard parental rights, responsibility and authority in the field of education and, in particular, sex education. In a significant and thought-provoking Sept. 16, 1987 address in Los Angeles, Calif., Pope John Paul declared: "From time to time, the question of sex education, especially as regards programs being used in schools, becomes a matter of concern to Catholic parents. The principles governing this area have been succinctly, but clearly, enunciated in Familiaris Consortio. First among these principles is the need to recognize that sex education is a fundamental right and duty of parents themselves." Pope John Paul added: "Other educational agencies have an important role, but always in a subsidiary manner, with due subordination to the rights of the parents."

James Likoudis, president of Catholics United for the Faith, New Rochelle, NY, provides this moral critique of sex education in public and Catholic schools: "Formalized sex education programs with their clinical fixation on the physiological and biological, shred the latency period in youth, thereby assaulting the innocence of the young and lessening their aversion to impurity and sexual perversion."

In this connection, the new Catechism of the Catholic Church makes some significant and trenchant observations about the virtue of purity. According to the Catechism, "Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.... Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love.... Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person." Moreover, "Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate."

Certainly, instead of amoral, secular humanistic and graphically explicit sex information classes in the schools, our families, churches, schools, social organizations and civic groups must affirm- in word and deed-the virtue of purity and the sacredness of sex, marriage, family and human life.

British Church Holds Summer Camp Singing Plates and Letters to God

By George Robertson-London, UK

Between 1st and 22nd of August this year a total of 91 children took part in three summer camps organized by the British Unification Church at Cleeve House in Wiltshire. Ages ranged from six to twelve and children traveled from all over the United Kingdom to participate in outings, sports, crafts and classes.

"It was a memorable experience for staff and children alike" said Chris Jubb, leader of a group of 7 year olds. "We all learned a great dead. Even from the variety of things that troubled some of the children They were ...well, quite remarkable.

I remember waking up one morning at 3am and there was one of my group standing like a ghost at the door. Michael, with a recent history of diarrhea, announced with a terrible almost Shakespearian gravity: "It's too big." "What is Michael?" said I, still in bed." What's too big?" "The toilet seat" he trembled. "The urgency in his voice was causing me some concern. I said go! Michael. Go! I didn't want to get out bed. He sent to the toilet but he came back. "I can't" (e said. "I would like to but I can't." I got up. We went to the toilet. He seemed almost to be sleep walking. I said OK Michael, There is the toilet. "No no I can't" he said. "Michael, my voice rising as I heard his stomach and intestines rumbling, you've got to sit on that toilet and pretty soon! He made it then at 3.15am....just".

One of Chris's sons, Simon, a keen naturalist recalled the visit to Seaworld at Weymouth. "Touching the silver sharks was great and I found three old nests in the grounds of Cleeve House, two blackbirds and a wren. I liked the workshop but I would have liked more time for nature study." Simon's sister Kathrine was in agreement with that. "I would like to have walked more around the woods but I made a new friend and she wrote to me. "Parents are always keen to find out what the children remember from the classes. Kathrine said quite definitely: "Don't tell lies".

Is classroom teaching appropriate? One parent who took part during the camps said. "I watched many of the children carefully writing notes but I'm not sure of how much they are retaining from classroom sessions. I think we need to think very creatively about how to "serve" the spiritual food. I think there are other ways apart from the traditional classroom where the teacher is talking and everyone sits listening. There is nothing wrong with that of course, as long as the children can respond. I've seen some excellent drama lessons which can teach many valuable lessons. Maybe we should include that in the future".

One of the committee who arranged the summer camps suggested that "if the children really learned one major point and could take that home with them, then the spiritual content would be a success for that child. It may sound like a very modest goal but it's realistic and if a child really is inspired, for example, to help their friends, or not to lie or to care for their possessions then it can be a lesson for their whole life".

A clear understanding of the origin of evil must be a central point as children grow up. Recognizing its importance, Mr. and Mrs. Brann, the National leaders in the UK, took time to personally teach these lectures about the Fall of man during the summer camps. "There were golden moments" said Chris Jubb. I was particularly struck by one thing Geoffrey Summer said to me. This little boy just can't sit still,

and doesn't appear to listen. He is a whirlwind on two feet. I asked him what he thought about a lecture on the subject of the Fall of Man. "Well," said this six year old after a moments reflection," I am happy to know the truth" and he paused meaningfully," but it's such a sad truth".

Anni Robertson has been involved with blessed children's education for several years. "We still have a long way to go to reach a good standard.

We have many plans and ideas but realizing them is hard. I think that the information we presented about the true children was effective. We drew charts of their hobbies, schools, favorite pets and their likes and dislikes.

There was real interest from the children in this project. They asked lots of questions and seemed excited by the details".

On that subject, one evening reflection read "I enjoyed the film of True Family singing. I think I enjoyed that a lot but not getting drenched..." (This was written on rainy day visit to the beach.)

Can children to learn how to pray? One teacher taking part in the camps said " Praying out loud is not easy for 7 or 8 year olds. They are inevitably shy. I wonder if we shouldn't start with some kind of meditation, even as a game and teach them gradually a measure of self control. This is such an important thing and we need to find the right strategies. If these children can find the joy and excitement of prayer with God then they will really have an incredible asset for life".

One of the children wrote in a reflection after a class about prayer

"Today in the morning our teem leader talked about prayer and I realized I didn't really pray proper" and finishing off the reflection in a truly religious style this precocious seven year old wrote "thee end".

"I think that it's important to see the children really as individuals, We make a mistake if we start relating to them as some kind of group. They are all very different and one of the treasures I take with me", said Chris Jubb, "is the say that I have gotten to know many of the children individually. I think it can mean a lot to them as well. One of the lessons which I take away from the summer camps is the need to improve our parenting skills. If you were to take almost any group of children from society you would find there are some you can get on with easily and others it seems almost impossible. In general, some adults do have problems and they see groups of children only collectively, not as unique individuals which they are."

Hamish Robertson who taught during one of the camps reminded everyone of the importance of the hyung sang aspect: good order, clear schedule and rules. "Not," he said, "the rigid discipline of an army but until we realize a level of unconditional love we have to recognize our present limits and work sensibly towards our goals. We need to keep lectures to a maximum length of 45 minutes. They need to be prepared more and have greater visual content".

Every team had duties which included washing up and one of the kitchen staff recalled the following conversation as two eight year old struggled with dinner plates: "How can you love a smelly old plate like this. Yu'h!"

"You have to pretend the plate is crying."

"Why would the plate cry?"

"Because it's dirty. When they're clean they sing". Carlo Raccarelli talking with the adults prior to the camps emphasized how to relate to the secretness of children, the sense of there being two sides and the "conspiracy" against adults. "If we can enter into their mind, we take away that terrible generation gap and their naughtiness and we gain access to them. It ceases to be two worlds going on separately under the same roof," he said

Children were invited one day to write a letter to God and the contents varied. From the sublime:

Dear God, I hope you are having a good time because I am. Please can you guide me through the week so that I don't do bad things.

and the penitent:

Dear God, So sorry for the fighting in the world and people dying from the war. When the kingdom of god comes on the earth there will not be any more fighting, killing, grayness secrets or sin.

and

Dear God Thank you for giving me life and please help me to use it to help others.

To the more esoteric:

Dear God, Hello how are you? My name is Jennifer and I am 12 years old. (I know that you already know these facts about me but I don't have anything else to write.) Can you answer one question for me? Why did you make it bad weather when we went to the beach?

and the ecstatically simple:

Dear God, Every morning I wake up and I look at the rabbits.

with an after thought

PS I don't want to swap back beds and I will try to be more like you

(and one more:)

PPS If you would like to come and visit us this is my address and what my house looks like (Drawing and address followed)

and the truly philosophical:

Dear God, Thank you for making all the people and nature. It would have been very dull if you had never made them and nobody would no what to do. If it wasn't for the True Parents getting my mum, and dad to join the church then I would never have existed.

Looking back over the summer camps staff members felt there had to be a fresh determination to prepare for future camps even as far as a year in advance. Keitha Browning urged more practical life guidance for the older children and reducing the size of groups to allow them to be more manageable. The development of family exchanges throughout Europe was also looked forward to and suggestions were made about creating a camp "uniform". Staff too, were encouraged to wear good quality and bright clothes.

From a spiritual viewpoint both parents and teachers agreed that the blessed children need to be excited by the prospect of their future mission which is to work with True Children. It was also suggested that elder blessed children could be trained to help as staff in the future.

Many of those who took part during the three summer camps expressed how moved they were by the example set by Mrs Brann, the British National leader who was caring for everyone, making drinks for the staff, always watching to make sure every child had their dinner, tidying up rooms and bringing the atmosphere of a true mother.