Religious Freedom and the United Nations

by Peter Ross-NYC

On February 28, 1996, Mr. Yasuo Sudo, a 31 year-old Japanese national, filed a formal complaint against the Japanese government for its involvement in the disappearance of his wife, Mrs. Nanako Sudo. Mrs. Sudo, 27 years old, has being missing from their home in Manhattan since January 25, 1996. Both the Sudos are Unificationists.

Mr. Sudo presents evidence in his complaint that Japanese officials have conspired and acted with others to abuse Mrs. Sudo's liberty and to violate her human rights. He contends that his wife has been abducted in New York, that she is currently being held against her will, and that she is being subjected to a coercive and abusive process to compel her to renounce her faith and to terminate her marriage to Mr. Sudo. Mr. Sudo asserts that the Japanese government has tried to cover-up its role in this matter and has attempted to obstruct his own desperate efforts to find his wife.

The United Nations has formally processed Mr. Sudo's complaint and is conducting its own investigation from Geneva. Upon a finding in his favor, Mr. Sudo expects that the U.N. will appropriately sanction the Japanese government. Most immediately, Mr. Sudo is appealing to the Center for Human Rights to persuade the Japanese government to present Mrs. Nanako Sudo to the international community in accordance with established principles of habeas corpus.

As the attorney representing Mr. Sudo in this case, and also in response to other recent incidents of government abuse of the Unification Church in several countries, I obtained some information at the United Nations which was most instructive and informative.

On November 25, 1981, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution #36/55. This was properly entitled: The Declaration On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Intolerance And Of Discrimination Based On Religion Or Belief. The adoption of this Declaration presented the General Assembly with the opportunity to re-iterate that one of the essential purposes of the United Nations as contained in its charter is the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. Furthermore, this resolution affirmed that freedom of belief is one of the rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly in 1948, and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in 1966.

The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people."

Article 2 declares: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status."

Article 18 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance."

This right was transferred into a legal obligation for ratifying States in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that:

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subjected to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subjected only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions."

Thus, when the General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion and Belief, it stated that it considered it essential "to promote understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion and belief" and that it was resolved to "adopt all necessary measures for the speedy elimination of such intolerance in all its forms and manifestations and to prevent and combat discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief."

In the Preamble to the Declaration, the United Nations General Assembly stated:

"Considering that religion or belief, for anyone who professes either, is one of the fundamental elements in his conception of life and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed,

"Considering that it is essential to promote understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion and belief for ends inconsistent with the Charter, other relevant instruments of the United nations and the purposes and principles of the present Declaration is inadmissible,

"Convinced that freedom of religion and belief should also contribute to the attainment of the goals of world peace, social justice and friendship among peoples and to the elimination of ideologies or practices of colonialism and racial discrimination, .. "

Among the eight Articles, the following are most pertinent to the issues discussed in last month's Unification News and the issues which comprised the complaint filed at the United Nations against the Japanese government.

Section 2 of Article 1 states that: "No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice."

Article 2, Section 1, states that: "No one shall be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons or person on the grounds of religion or other beliefs." And Section 2 continues: "For the purposes of the present Declaration, the expression "intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief" means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis."

Article 3 states: "Discrimination between human beings on the grounds of religion and belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and shall be condemned as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enunciated in detail in the International Covenants on Human Rights, and as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations between nations."

It is indeed encouraging to see that the United Nations is attempting to wrestle with the many challenges to religious freedom that arise in the world. The issue of freedom of religion and belief is particularly ripe due to recent incidents in all too many countries in a variety of forms against a diverse array of religious communities. Franklin Delano Roosevelt noted wisely in 1937 that "the epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease."

While its mandate permits it to respond in particular to the actions of States that unduly impinge upon religious freedom, the UN has only recently begun to address the fact that all too often State misconduct is instigated by its predominant domestic religion. Moreover, the international community faces serious challenges as it contends with the response of States to the increasing plurality of religious expression and the rise of fundamentalism set in the context of a concurrent propensity towards secularism. From its bully pulpit, the United Nations can set forth and uphold general principles to enable nations avoid a collapse into lawlessness when faced with such pressures.

Recent Visit to the C.I.S.

by Betsy Jones

This was my second visit to the C.I.S. In 1992 I had helped with a workshop near the Black Sea. The amazing thing was that one of my students in the counseling workshop we had on January 27 and 28 was also a participant in that `92 workshop. Her name is Tanya and she is now Blessed and ready to learn about how to take responsibility and try to help her brothers and sisters.

Although I worried on the way over if I'd have enough material and handouts etc. when I began to share (with the 40 participants, some missionaries and some Russian members) I felt much inspiration. It continued when I gave the Sunday Service to over 250 young members in Moscow. (See text below).

Tom and Fusako Phillips and their four children were my hosts. Dr. Joon Ho Seuk returned from visiting other countries to open our workshop and spend some time with us at the end.

Our missionaries are really working hard, living in small quarters and going without many comforts to continue to develop the faith of the Russian members.

We had a WFWP. meeting in Moscow organized by Monika Kunde, one of the first missionaries there. I gave an introduction to the work of Women's Federation in America and showed the "Sisterhood" video. Many women had tears in their eyes and are looking forward to the development of a sisterhood ceremony between Germany and the C.I.S. in April.

Tom, Fusako and Monika and I then took an overnight train to St. Petersburg. Bob and Karen Beebe are the leaders there and are working hard to guide the members. We saw the beautiful "Hermitage" museum where the Czar lived. Then we had a seminar in the afternoon for Blessed couples and some single members on counseling and Blessed Children's education. That evening over 40 guests came to hear a presentation on the work of WFWP. in America and Moscow and St. Petersburg with Monika and me. On the return to Moscow we gathered the Blessed Children in Moscow for a final good-bye and shared about

World CARP and the Blessed children's magazine. Jeff Tallakson's oldest daughter Ji Eun expressed much gratitude to hear news about other blessed children's activities. Many of the children were such international citizens and several could speak more than two languages. All of them had mastered Russian enough to be doing well in school there. I shared with them a video of our children's wedding reception in the U.S. and encouraged them to prepare for their Blessing Day.

On the way home I stopped in Miami and met with several Blessed couples at the home of Family Federation leaders Gunther and Lisa Freystatter for a talk and discussion of Blessed children's education.

If any first or second generation member wants to write to our missionaries and/or second generation over there please send the letters to : Blessed Family Department c/o Betsy Jones/Tom Phillips , 4 West 43rd Street, NYC, NY.

New Translation of Divine Principle Goes to Press

We are happy to announce that the new translation of Wolli Kangron, formerly translated as Divine Principle, is now at the printers.

The current text is a direct translation from the Korean Wolli Kangron (Exposition of the Divine Principle), which was published in 1966. The earlier Wolli Hesul (Explanation of the Principle), was published in 1957. Both of these were written with Rev. Moon's guidance by Rev. Eu and represented a systematized exposition of the manuscript Wolli Wonbon (Original Text of the Divine Principle), which was written and dictated by Rev. Moon in Pusan during the Korean war. For the past thirty years, Wolli Kangron has served as the official text of Rev. Moon's basic teaching.

The first English edition of Wolli Kangron translated by Dr. Won Pok Choi appeared in early 1973. A second edition was published later that year. The second edition became the standard English version and was reprinted numerous times with various page sizes and covers. (Some of these printings were mistakenly identified as new editions on their title pages.) The second edition also served as the source text for most translations into other Western languages.

The new translation is titled Exposition of the Divine Principle-a more accurate translation of Wolli Kangraon.. It will be published in number of different editions:

Deluxe bible-bound color version with ribbon and gilded edges $39.95

Hole punched lecturer color edition $29.95

A hard backed black and white edition $19.95

A paperback black and white edition $ 9.95

The new translation was authorized by Rev. Moon in association with a color-coding project, designed as a study guide for members and lecturers. In the color-coded version, the most essential material will be printed in red, important material will be printed in blue, and the next level material will be printed in green. Lecturers wishing to give a summary overview of the Principle can stick with only the text in red. When giving more thorough elaborations they can add blue and green text as needed.

The books will be available from HSA Publications in May. Please call to make advance orders. We are very happy to be bringing this project to a conclusion and pray and hope that through this new translation God's truth can be more rapidly given to the western world.

HSA Publications and the Divine Principle translating team

The following excerpt is from Chapter One, Section 4

4.3.1 Love and Beauty

When two entities, discrete manifestations of God's dual characteristics, form a common base and seek to unite as the third object partner to God and establish a four position foundation, they will engage in give and take action. In this give and take, the emotional force that the subject partner gives to the object partner is called love, and the emotional force that the object partner returns to the subject partner is called beauty. The force of love is active, and the stimulation of beauty is passive.

In the relationship between God and human beings, God gives love as the subject partner and human beings return beauty as object partners. In the relationship between a man and a woman, the man is the subject partner, giving love, while the woman is the object partner, returning beauty. In the universe, people are the subject partners who give love to the natural world, and the natural world returns beauty as an object partner. However, when the subject partner and object partner become completely one in harmony, love is found within beauty and beauty is found within love. This is because when a subject partner and object partner become one in a circular movement, the subject partner sometimes acts as an object partner, and the object partner sometimes acts as a subject partner.

In interpersonal relationships, the beauty that a subordinate returns in response to the love of a superior is called loyalty, and the beauty that children return in response to the love of their parents is called filial piety. The beauty that a wife returns in response to the love of her husband is called chastity. The purpose of love and beauty is to enable two wholesome beings, springing forth from God, to join in harmonious oneness by sharing love and beauty with each other. They thereby become the third object partner to God, establish a four position foundation, and realize the purpose of creation.

Next, let us investigate the nature of God's love. Had Adam and Eve attained perfection, each becoming a substantial object partner to God resembling one of His dual characteristics, they would have joined as husband and wife and raised children in a godly family. In so doing, they would have experienced three kinds of original love with their three object partners: parental love, conjugal love and children's love. (The love of the first object partner, the love of the second object partner, the love of the third object partner.) Only then would they complete the three object purpose and form the four position foundation. This would be the fulfillment of their purpose of creation.

God's love is the subject to the various kinds of love flowing through the four position foundation. Therefore, God's love is manifested through the various loves of the three object partners. God's love is the underlying force which breathes life into the four position foundation. Accordingly, the four position foundation is the vessel of perfect beauty through which we can receive and enjoy the fullness of God's love. It is also the home of perfect joy and the wellspring of goodness. Upon this ground, the purpose of creation is complete.

Love Breaks the Rules of Arithmetic

The logic of love has its own arithmetic. Within the logic of love, one plus one does not only make two; one plus one makes one, and one plus one makes three. In marriage you have one man and one woman who become one body in love. By becoming one body in love, the one man and one woman create one more, a child.

Thus the world of love is not a world of calculation. The world in which one plus one always equals two is a dry world. It is a world fit for inventories, warehouses, commodities and money markets. And those are fine. But we cannot live full human lives on the basis of quantitative measurement. Love will not fit into our calculations.

I met a young man who recently completed his Masters in philosophy. He told me that he can prove that mathematics is not an inclusive system. It's good to have proof for what we already sense anyway.

To love is to desire oneness with the object of one's devotion. And, in a way, the meaning of one's life is measured by the object of one's love. I realized long ago that one should gain employment in the area which one loves, because you will naturally find a good supply of it there. For instance, when I worked in a student cafeteria, I had lots of food. Food was no problem; just get to work a little early and pig out. If you love clothes, work in a clothing store. If you love cars, sell cars. If you love books, work in a bookstore or a library. If you love money, work in an investment company.

If one loves ice cream, then one desires to be one with ice cream. If you really love ice cream, you want it day and night. The world's champion ice cream lover would want to take baths in the stuff. If you love music, you're listening to it all the time; the more you love it, the more you listen to it, until your life is taken over by music. The person who loves movies is always in a cinema. The person who loves the 49ers has next year's season ticket in his pocket already.

He's got 49ers' posters in his house, and a 49ers' license plate, 49ers' jacket, 49ers' memorabilia and belongs to the 49ers' fan club. When someone sees him, they say, "He really loves the 49ers." His greatest dream is to sit on the 49ers bench during the Super Bowl. He appears on the Great Wall of China in his 49ers' jacket; at the River Ganges in his 49ers' tee-shirt. The siddhus all come to him, asking how is Steve Young's elbow. He imparts wisdom, and they are satisfied.

Can mere arithmetic handle such love? No. This man's love for the 49ers has multiplied exponentially into something which consumes his entire life. His wife leaves him. His daughters leave him, and his sons stay only on the condition that they, too, are 49er fans. Such is the power of love for the 49ers, or golf, or fishing, or gold, or fast cars, or power, or opium. Love is the same; everybody suffers from it. The question is the object of love.

The man who loves his nation is a patriot. He will die for his nation. The man or woman who loves God is regarded as of the highest value by the world. Jesus loved God more than anything; more than his own life, and he proved it. Thus we are assured he was one with God. His love was true. We can rely on it, and since his God is our God, his love connects to us.

Love creates life and love determines our lives. Love&Life are linked together. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." He said we should "lay up our treasure in heaven."

Obviously, the absolute consummation of love can take place in one place and one place only, where oneness can be achieved totally and absolutely. That place is the marriage bond. The marriage bond is the place where oneness can be achieved without comparison. There is a limit to our potential for oneness with ice cream, or the 49ers, or our nation. Ice cream is limited to the pleasure of the mouth. The 49ers is limited to the realm of sports. Love for nation also is limited. Even love for God is not complete. If it were, God would have stopped with the creation of Adam. But he saw, Adam alone was not enough. That means that His relationship with Adam, by itself, was not enough, for Him or for Adam.

But love for one's spouse has the potential for total engagement of mind and body, to the extent of the two becoming one body, the separation of the two ending completely. And it is eternal, never- ending. It is a unification of equals, who together become a new being. All the metaphors of religious ecstasy point to it. All the experiences of religious ecstacy pale before it.

And it is continuous, and it connects to all aspects of life. And it is the love which literally creates life. It is the love by which we transmit our being into history, through our physical lineage and through our bequeathing of ourselves as teachers, models, mentors, parents of our children and their children.

Love&Life are inextricably bound at the pinnacle of our ideals. Let this humble publication have this as its dedication.

Love and Life

Welcome to Love&Life, a new publication that is being born in the womb of the Unification News. To give it birth, all you need to do is remove it from its mother paper. That's right, just gently pull the inner two sheets (pages -- through -- ) out, keeping them neat, and voila! you have in your hands the first number of Love&Life (a collector's item to be sure). Who is Love&Life for? Whomever loves life and whomever you'd like to have as part of your love and life: your brother, your grandma, your aunt in Hoboken, your neighbors across the way.

Send us your input and comments. Love&Life stands alone for you to share. We'll develop it. We'll change the name. The purpose is the same: if the UNews is pizza-style Doritos, then Love&Life is cooler ranch. I wouldn't have understood that either, without a lesson from my kids a couple of days ago at the grocery store.

Go ahead, pull it out. We'll make more.

Interview with Internet Consultant Philip Loveless

Pawling, NY

Phil Loveless is an Internet Marketing consultant who is helping the Unification community get on-line.

QUESTION: How did you get involved with the Internet?

ANSWER: About four months bought a computer for my children to use at home- these days it is hard for them to get time on it. I started exploring the internet about 3 months ago. what i have found is simply astonishing. the internet is in my opinion a gift from God. It is so many things it is hard to point in one direction It can be used for education, research, global commerce, entertainment, and the list goes on and on. But most importantly it is the most powerful communications tool yet developed. It will literally change the world forever-kind of like the telephone, automobile and airplane did in the past.

QUESTION: How does one get on the "NET" anyway?

ANSWER: I know it is a bit intimidating at first. It is kind of like learning to drive a car. You don't need to know about how it all works, you just need to know how to use the navigational tools to get around Once you know it, it is a piece of cake

QUESTION: Where can you learn this stuff?

ANSWER: there are many ways to learn the basics. I recommend either buying a video tape that you can review many times, or taking a course about Internet basics . I will be having courses in the NY area starting in April called Internet Boot Camp which not only teach the basics but show how to explore the vast resources available there. It is quite a dynamic course and will be held at either the New Yorker hotel or Manhattan Center Studios or both

QUESTION: What about all the negative stuff you hear about the Internet?

ANSWER: The Internet is basically a super communications tool. It is, in itself, is not good or bad It is like love or money they can be used for both purposes good and bad.

QUESTION: How do you see church members using this tool?

ANSWER: The potential is phenomenal!! I believe the most important way is as a witnessing tool which is already being done by several members around the country. We are creating a Family Resource Center up in Westchester to communicate our core values of real true family love on a community level. The beauty of this is that this virtual community can exist and prosper worldwide without geographic boundaries and people can communicate and share ideas simply and easily through e- mail. We have big plans for this project working with Pastor Eric Holt and Asst. Pastor Mike Inglis of the Westchester, NY community. Who are already doing a fabulous job of building that real community there!

QUESTION: What else can it be used for?

ANSWER: Being a successful businessman i can't help but see it's commercial value and marketing power!! In my opinion, this tool will revolutionize the economies of the world by creating a competition of ideas rather than capital. How many people in the past have had great ideas but no resources to make them a reality The Internet will empower both large businesses and especially small entrepreneurs to compete effectively in literally a global marketplace!!! Now that is powerful. May times our members have trouble witnessing because they have financial difficulties and burdens that require a lot of time and energy which hinders their witnessing as well as they lack proper training in communications skills that are necessary to effectively articulate the principle. The Internet can help change all of that rather quickly!

QUESTION: What has been your involvement with our church community?

ANSWER: I've been a member for almost 22 years, first with MFT for 6 years then 5 years at East Garden Security then Ilhwa 2 years and for the past 9 years I've been working as a financial planner on Wall Street and now in Tarrytown

QUESTION: If members are interested in getting involved more in this area, what do you advise?

ANSWER: Buy a computer and get the training! It has literally changed my life and re-inspired me to a complete new level!! If any members need assistance I am happy to help; they can call me at (914) 855-3813 after 7, EST.

Friends Online

2/23/96

This month I'm contributing something a bit lighter in tone. About time, right?

Several years ago, our pastor, Rev. Kevin Thompson, asked his congregation to "get involved in the community." Many of our Northern California members joined sports clubs, community groups, etc., and several have gained responsible positions. Following my interests, I joined the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Unfortunately, due to my work, family, religious and other obligations, I have no free days left. However, I've found another way to participate.

I started writing several years ago, and progressed from handwriting, to a typewriter, to an old Mac Classic computer. Recently, due to the generosity of my father, we bought a new Power Mac with a fast modem. (That's how this article got to the Unification News!) As was dad's intention, our boy has now become `computer literate.' I've also been able to email people at the Astronomical Society, and recently, to contribute a little to their monthly magazine.

Writing

My forte seems to be writing, and we've each been urged to "do that thing which we can do best," in contributing to God's Providence. My Church elders have encouraged me in this, and I've now published `pro- Principle' articles in several venues. I've also been working on a science fiction novel, which (of course) incorporates a great deal of Principle.

Right now, American `popular culture' contains virtually no Principled content. (Here I'm speaking of books and online publishing, and leaving out music, art, films, TV, etc. About these, others know far more than I.) So far, UC members have written very few fiction books. And most of these were paid for by that member's hard-earned money. The way it usually works is: they pay you for your writing! Some authors are paid huge sums.

Having tried to write, I now stand in awe of those author's great talent. However, most popular fiction's content, not to mention its underlying philosophy, is utterly `fallen.' By any measure. The best of the lot are narrowly Christian works, or watery New Age tomes. With exceptions, my favorite genre, science fiction, is particularly leftist, New Age and libertine.

I wanted to present a popular alternative. But without much formal schooling, I knew I was deficient in grammar, phrasing, characterization, plotting, etc. Therefore I sought advice online-and found it! America Online has several genre-specific forums, and some excellent `advice' people on staff.

In the event, my `posted' questions caused quite an uproar . . . However, they did attract the notice of my first online pen pal, a Christian writer.

Being a Mac enthusiast, I checked out Apple Computer's `eWorld' online service. There I found a writer's forum sponsored by a popular writer's magazine. They hosted a writer's `chat room,' and within it, a weekly `critique group' meeting.

Here, group members take turns submitting samples of their own work, and everyone sends in a critique of the piece, pointing out errors and suggesting improvements. Then all meet online, weekly, to answer the author's questions and discuss the piece.

The eWorld group is quite diverse, and all sorts of things come up. It was only about three weeks before I "took the plunge" and sent in a chapter of my book. I'm very grateful I did, for they helped my writing improve tremendously. I'll soon have my third `session.'

Cyberspace

Some people just don't understand `cyberspace.' I know one beloved - and very well educated- UC elder who tells me he's "barely gotten used to using a typewriter." Someone very close to me once berated me for "talking to the computer all the time." Well, as I then explained, my Mac is a powerful computer, but it's not that powerful! No, there are real-live people at the other end, also seated before their computers.

Unfortunately, most chat rooms have a well-deserved bad reputation. They're filled with airheaded teenagers, strange adults, and worse. However, I'm speaking of a `dedicated' room, intended for a specific propose.

Our online group, as most do, maintains certain standards. One must demonstrate serious interest in order to join. Belying the stereotypes, it's hardly a collection of get-a-life netheads. In fact, there's a doctor, a scientist, a newsman, a college professor, a musician, several school teachers, and more. Plus one truck driver-me.

As it happened, there was a change at eWorld, and our host magazine's contract was not renewed. We were homeless, and with only a few day's notice. Still, everyone wanted to continue the group. The volunteer assistant leader carried on for us. He was getting pretty `stressed out,' so we needed a new leader to carry us through the transition. I'd been fairly active in the group, and explained that "I used to boss around all the kids in school." I was promptly elected as leader! Later, we plan to rotate the position.

Now we're meeting in a regular eWorld Member's Room, where, from the constant stream of `drop-ins,' we sometimes `meet' a serious author. Also, we've been inviting our online friends to come by. We now have members in three countries.

Meeting online had certain practical advantages. Several of our members have young children, and they can `log on' and be with us- without even leaving the house! One lady sometimes gets toys dumped over her head as she types; she bravely perseveres. As the weeks go by we're developing real friendships. I already have plans to meet one member in person.

The media still depicts `net surfing' as the domain of teenaged hackers, but this is no longer the case. America Online, eWorld and several other services now have `graphical interfaces.' That is, one simply `clicks buttons' on the screen to get around. Anyone can learn this, believe me. If one is judicious with their `online time,' it doesn't cost much, either.

You might be worried about the lurid `scare stories' you've heard about the Internet. Don't be! Think of it this way. We've all walked into a 7-11 store and emerged with a cup of coffee and a newspaper (or whatever)-and managed not to stock up on the Playboys, Hustlers, etc. which peep from behind the counter. With television, especially if you've got cable, you're likely to encounter some rather lurid imagery-just by turning it on.

The Net isn't like that. Online, one is confronted with tens of thousands of forums, newsgroups, etc., and tens of millions of Web pages. The menu lists alone run for pages! Only a tiny percentage of these are `explicit' in content, and one must search for those, with a fairly high level of ability. Many providers (America Online shines here) have `parental controls' which can block out such things, anyway.

It's sort of like the television set `V Chip' Congress recently voted to require-despite the fact that it hadn't been invented yet, much less marketed. Ah, but that's another story.

Invitation

In the past I've made overtures to several Unificationist writers. What I had in mind was an informal gathering of UC-member-authors, online or otherwise. So far, everyone has been too busy to respond fully. Please allow me to `float' this idea here, in this wider forum. We all need some encouragement. Any writers feel up to the challenge?

The Popular Culture looms, and it cries out for Principled input. Look at all the garbage on the shelves-people are getting paid millions of dollars to produce the stuff! There are some conscientious, concerned authors out there, and I've already been in touch with a couple of them. I'm happy to report that they've been most encouraging.

If anyone out there has work that needs polishing, my group has a few sharp eyes ready for it. We'll take short stories, children's tales, book chapters; any fiction genre. You're welcome to visit. We WERE meeting on eWorld but, by the time this is published, we'll be on AOL.

EMail me at Cuebon2@aol.com for more information. See you in cyberspace!

Evangelicals and Catholics Together

There is a hopeful sign, a sign of God's work, appearing in conservative American Catholic and Evangelical circles. It centers upon an informal group consisting of academics, clergy and activists from both sides, at the center of which are Southern Baptist Charles Colson and Catholic Richard John Neuhaus. Included are some major figures, including Bill Bright and John Cardinal O'Connor. At the end of March, 1994, this group published a statement fifteen pages long, stating that God seems to be drawing Evangelicals and Catholics together.

The main impetus drawing them together is their common cause in America's culture war. Theirs is a common battle against secularism, fought over issues of school choice, market economy, limited government and America's international responsibilities. They call together for a renewed appreciation of the western religio-cultural heritage. At the forefront is the battle against abortion and its twin, euthanasia.

This statement has had a significant impact in the circles which are impacted by these sorts of things, to spin a phrase off President Lincoln. But before proceeding with my comments, I will note two points concerning the origins of the group which created the statement which should be of interest to Unificationists.

One, Colson and Neuhaus first met, and discovered something of their common cause, in the context of Colson's prison ministry in Virginia in 1985. The ECT, as "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" is referred to, had its beginnings in a prison ministry setting. We meditate upon another religious leader confined at that time in another prison, this one in Connecticut. We meditate upon the commitment that prisoner, Reverend Moon, made to America, in particular to Christians, from that prison. His commitment was for social action and interracial harmony. It spawned the Washington Times, which has had great impact along the same socio-political front-line upon which the ECT fights.

Second, the immediate impulse behind the ECT work was their anguish over "the growing conflicts between our communities in various parts of the world, especially Latin America. . . animosities between evangelicals and Catholics threatened to mar the image of Christ by turning Latin America in a Belfast of religious warfare." (ECT, p. xi) This same inmate in a Connecticut prison in 1985 also has turned his energies to the problem of Catholic-Protestant strife in Latin America. It is interesting to compare strategies.

Colson, Neuhaus et. al. soon turned their attention to the problems in the United States. "How could we speak a useful word to our brothers and sisters elsewhere," they reasoned, "if we had not in a more careful and comprehensive way addressed our relationship with one another here in North America?" (Ibid., xii) This sentiment led to a series of discussions and drafts, the statement published in March, 1993, and further comments, criticisms and responses, which are represented by a book published in 1995 with the same title, Evangelicals and Catholics Together: Toward a Common Mission (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995).

The impetus is very agreeable to the Unificationist perspective, I think, namely that unity comes through common purpose. But we'll come back to that after noting a second strategy, that pursued by Reverend Moon. Reverend Moon sent missionaries and members to South America, who developed a conferencing and economic base along with a church foundation in every country. He supported victory over communism education through CAUSA, which was dedicated both to neutralizing Marxist falsities and upholding democratic principles. He supported the work of AULA, the Association for the Unity of Latin America. On this foundation he is now calling leaders from all walks of life in South America to share his vision for the future of their continent, centered on God and the restoration of the family.

In particular, he is devoting himself to the resolution of the Catholic-Evangelical split. His strategy here has one similarity with that of the ECT group, namely, identifying a common purpose. And the "common purpose" in question stand in relationship with each other. For the ECT, the common purpose has to do with the conservative social agenda informed by a common faith in Christ. This agenda is formulated around the concerns of the family. Reverend Moon is the same. The distinction here is that the ECT tends to work in the sphere of politics and social action. Reverend Moon is working in the sphere of the restoration of the family through God's Blessing of marriage. He is offering a profound development of God's in-breaking into the realm of husband-wife love.

These two are not incompatible as such; they are two sides of the same coin, one more external, political and social; one more internal, religious and spiritual. Both are calling Catholics and Evangelicals to unity through a common purpose.

Reverend Moon, unlike the ECT group, is locating himself in South America. Much of his time is spent in isolated, primitive environs of southwestern Brazil and northern Argentina. As reported in this issue of UNews, he is meeting local village people, and teaching them and learning of their problems and addressing those problems. He is bringing resources to bear upon the agricultural base, not just for the sake of developing South America, but for the sake of feeding the world. And, of course, he is fishing. And he is encouraging tourism. He wants to connect South America, North America, Asia, Africa, and everywhere, into one village.

With that having been said, I offer some thoughts on the content of ECT.

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ECT is a work of God. The age of Christian separation should have ended long ago. In Divine Principle terminology and analysis, the sixteenth-century Reformers, centered upon Luther, were as Abel to their elder brother Catholic Cain. Like Cain, Catholics had the seniority and power. But God accepted the offering of Abel, the Protestants. Both brothers are fallen and full of faults. The acceptance of Abel and rejection of Cain had little to do with their personal merits. The time of separation of the brothers is over. It is God's will that Christians unite.

ECT is a sign of the last days. Its authors, in particular Father Neuhaus, are aware that their work bears some relation to the return of Christ. As to how, when, why, they profess openness and ignorance. They are aware that they may be shocked at how he chooses to reveal himself. They refer to the possibility that the Lord will return soon, and yet allow it could happen that "the merciful and mysterious ways of God the Second Coming is delayed, . . ." (Ibid., xv) Their work is dedicated to help "prepare the world for the coming of him to whom belongs the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever." (Ibid., xxxii)

ECT represents a key of love opening the locks of doctrine. No matter what the sincerity and genius of the Protestants and Catholics who advanced in separate ways, the final test of doctrine is love. Love is the ability to bring oneness. Or, as Voltaire put it, "we all are miserable wretches; why do we condemn each other for being miserable wretches in different ways?"

Finally, the ECT group must avoid the tendency to intellectual self- indulgence. According to their own testimony, their project began in 1992 as an effort to prevent religious warfare in Latin America. Not to discount what has been achieved, I am wondering if anyone in Latin America (besides a few scholars interested in the Anglo Christian world to the north) has heard of it.

We all know the tendency to gravitate toward what one likes to do, especially when one is receiving accolades, engendering stimulating dialogue, with a bit of heroism thrown in, and no doubt helping the principals maintain their careers, publications and subscription lists. This is all fine; I for one am obviously stimulated by it and am a customer. But, after all is said and done, it is what North Americans are good at. Is it been of help to South America?

Perhaps this is where Reverend Moon has his God-given role. Consider: he is the one South Korean leader whom the North Koreans trust. Thus he is playing a critical, albeit behind-the-scenes, role in the unification process. At this moment he has declared his commitment to Catholic-Evangelical unification. From that position, he is educating literally thousands of evangelicals from Brazil. He is educating them about God's plan for Adam and Eve, and about God's preparation for a sinless man, Jesus Christ, to be born, and God's plan for Jesus Christ.

He is teaching, in effect, about God's ideal for marriage, for man and woman in relation to God and each other. This is to reveal the flaw with the marriage of our original ancestors. He is also explaining why Jesus did not marry. What is at stake here is what theologians call "theological anthropology": what it means to be a man, what it means to be a woman, in front of God.

I will close with one thought. We see hopeful signs of Evangelical- Catholic unity through a shared social and moral vision. As hopeful as this is, it is a house built upon sand. The root of Catholic- Protestant unity must be planted within the context of the fundamental human relationship with God. On the surface, Evangelicals and Catholics have grounds for agreement, according to the ECT authors, in their common affirmation that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then what's the problem?

If we had to boil the matter down, the apparent key problem is the authority of one man called the Pope. I suggest what I believe to be a novel perspective from which to approach it, which may be helpful. I propose that there is a deeper level to the Papal authority issue, and that is the definition of what it means to be a Christian man.

Within Catholic society, there are men who marry and those who don't. Within Protestant society, all men marry, but some of them are Christians and the rest are not. These contradictory positions reflect a gap within the Christian foundation. That gap lies between the primordial human archetypes: Adam and Christ.

Adam married. Christ did not. Adam is the primordial archetype of married men; we have no other. Adam was deceived by a woman, his wife, who herself was deceived by a serpent. Christians know that this serpent was an angel, Lucifer, who fell to become Satan. Satan was a seducer of the woman, and the seduced woman became a seducer of the man, Adam. We are born the children of Adam and Eve, although Jesus' words cut through even this physical cloak to the inner reality: "you are of your father the devil" (John 8:44).

Christ did not marry; he knew no woman and had no children. He is the model of the Catholic priest, who has authority by it. This distinctive view of manhood is at the root of the magesterial teaching authority of the church, in particular the Petrine office of the Holy Father. Therefore, without a consensus as to the model of manhood, Catholic-Evangelical unity will not obtain. After all, we are not only talking about man's relationship with God, here, but of the relationship of half the human race with the other half; the combination of those two halves being the means of creating the generations on the earth.

Adam sinned and married. Jesus did not sin and did not marry. The Catholic grasps the sinlessness, rejecting marriage. The Evangelical grasps marriage, and, counting on the righteousness of Christ to justify him, rejects sinlessness. Is there a synthesis between Christ and Adam? Yes; it is sinless marriage, marriage with its root in God. Christ is called the "last Adam" or "second Adam." (2 Cor)

Jesus returns to let us know: we can have it all. We can have sinlessness and we can have marriage. Both are in God's plan. This is the gift of God in the last days: the Blessing of marriage. It resolves the two views of manhood. It will bring together Catholic and Evangelical. And Jew and Muslim, and all of God's family. It is the work of Jesus Christ toward which Evangelicals and Catholics together profess expectation, even assurance, and open-mindedness.