Prayer of Blessing for 250 National Council for Church and Social Action Trucks

Sun Myung Moon
July 12, 1984
East Garden

Loving Father,

We thank You for remembering our movement and working on earth throughout history for the protection of Your children.

We also thank You for remembering the pitiful Korean people. How long have You been suffering in order to educate Your children in Korea to honor eternally the names of the True Parents of the cosmos? Throughout history this people has been a worthless, miserable one who did not deserve even Your sympathetic love; but You remembered the sacrificial blood of its past generations, came down to share its misery, and enabled it to become a nation with five thousand years of history behind it.

You have called, guided and pushed me since my childhood. You have suffered so much to arrive at this time, the apex of Your providence. Thank You for Your protection along my rugged path. Your suffering has always been greater than mine.

Through difficulties and disappointments You have always sent people to support and even protect me.

America has been called to work as the central nation for the worldwide providence; but is failing to fulfill that mission because Christianity, which was supposed to guide this nation, did not have a strong enough foundation. I thank You again for Your concern for America's situation, and for sending me to this land more than ten years ago. Thank You for letting me come to have today such a secure foundation, after overcoming many stormy ordeals and marching incessantly forward to expand Your foothold on the earth.

The Unification movement has become something that neither America nor Christianity can continue to despise. I know that American democracy came into existence to help Christianity unite with the Unification movement, and to expand this unity into the worldwide Cain-Abel relationship. Father, now You witness Christian ministers, united with the Unification Church, leading the battle for religious liberty which can awaken all Americans. I ask You to here exert Your power of re-creation, to better prepare the environment, and to enable us to transform this world into one over which You will have dominion forever.

In order to prepare for such a time we created NCCSA. Now is the moment in history when we can pour gasoline on dry firewood and set it ablaze. My court case has become the rallying point for people concerned with religious liberty.

Therefore, in order that we not lose this chance, but use it for uniting the Unification movement, this American nation, and world Christianity, we have purchased 250 trucks, upon which I ask Your blessing.

Whenever any of those 250 trucks represented by this one here appears on a highway, or in a city, let it be surrounded by Your mysterious power. Let the young drivers be welcomed not only by the mountains, streams, flowers and trees, but also let all the people meeting these trucks and drivers be overwhelmed with joy and united to establish Your kingdom of heart on this continent. Then, let this country have a unified religious community. Let them wave the flag of one united world, and become champions who satisfy Your will and thereby heal the bitter suffering which You have endured throughout history. Let them march forward together toward one world under God.

Please be with each of these trucks wherever they may go. The drivers may very often have to work despite physiological or environmental difficulties. They need Your protection so that they can proudly show all that You are truly with this movement. Father, may those who operate these trucks praise You, respect You, love You, enjoy the world of heart, discuss Your heart with everyone they meet, and distribute not only foodstuffs but also Your blessing, Your heart, and Your gifts.

Father, please place Your hand in blessing upon the entire system starting now with this program. We are working also on getting 250 mobile homes. Please help those working on this project to be united into one, forming a pipeline for the distribution of foodstuffs and spiritual nutrition to people in need, and to fulfill their missions as ones sent by You.

Father, I thank You for receiving my prayer over this truck, representing the 250, on this day when we also celebrate the birthdays of both Kook Jin and Sun Jin. I offer You everything in this prayer in the names of the True Parents. Amen

Tuna Fishing is a Good Basic Training for Life

Sun Myung Moon
July 5, 1984
Excerpt from God’s Will and the Ocean: Tuna Fishing and the Way of Life
Morning Garden, Massachusetts

Basically, this tuna fishing is not just to go out and get the tuna and make some money. That is not the central point at all. This is good basic training for the rest of your life. If you apply the principles you learn faithfully, you can make a success out of your life. Do you understand? Like anything else you do in your life, you have to put a lot of time in. Study everything, discuss it with others and read it again, then put in concentrated effort.

Actually, I didn't have the time to come here, but I felt so much that I wanted to give you a good start, so I came yesterday and went fishing at four o'clock in the morning. Today I am here with you. Tomorrow I may go out too, but that will be the last day. I cannot stay with you all summer, so please, do your best. The last ten years, I devoted every single day of the season out on the ocean. Rain or shine, I went out. Literally, rain or shine. There were storm warnings and still I went out. One time there was a storm coming and everyone could see it clearly, but in the middle of the night I said, "Let's go." The captain obeyed and we went out. I've gone out in the midst of a frenzied ocean and endured it. And then, in the morning I came back in, having won over that.

While I was in the boat waiting for the tuna to come, I thought over and over again of the providence in America and planned what to do. I thought about the problem of world hunger and planned what to do step by step. I didn't just think one or two years ahead, not like that. Instead, I thought about hundreds of years to come and what to do to prepare for that. I thought about how to farm the tuna and how it could be nurtured and used for millions of pounds of nutritional food in the future. I thought like that all the time. There is nothing that I didn't think of in the long hours while I was waiting for the tuna to come.

Every morning I went out, no matter how early. I was always full of hope and expectation for that day. I came back when the sun was setting, returning with elation that I had done my very best for that day and wondering what the next day had in store for me. I expect you to take pride and to go the same path that I have gone. You are now privileged to tread the very same path that I have walked these past ten years.

You cannot complain about anything. You are inheriting everything. The ocean has a great and wonderful future. I know it. You believe it. Who is that future for? For who? For us? For America. You came here, not because of your leader, but because God was calling you. You are here because of God's calling. You have to know how special it is to be here. Don't complain about being here.

I spent ten years preparing everything for you. From now we really have to go out on the ocean and inherit everything that is there. It is there, waiting for you. If you miss this point, you will miss something great in the future. I have been so serious to make the standard -- for you! Please remember this. If you don't make a foundation, then someone else will come and take it from you.

I did not pioneer all these areas for that. I have pioneered Gloucester, the Gulf and now Alaska. Many people already stayed here, but they never thought about my effort. No matter how early, I woke up and worked hard all day. Many young people would never work as hard. If you Americans don't take this from me, I will give it to the Japanese. If they don't want it, I will bring Korean members to inherit everything. If they don't, I will get the blessed children and make them take the inheritance. Do you understand? Are you clear about this point? Do you know what I mean?

From this moment, make up your mind. We start the program from this moment. Each day is a step towards the future. May God bless you.

Tuna Fishing is a Good Basic Training for Life

Sun Myung Moon
July 5, 1984
Tuna Fishing and the Way of Life - God's Will and the Ocean
Morning Garden

Basically, this tuna fishing is not just to go out and get the tuna and make some money. That is not the central point at all. This is good basic training for the rest of your life. If you apply the principles you learn faithfully, you can make a success out of your life. Do you understand? Like anything else you do in your life, you have to put a lot of time in. Study everything, discuss it with others and read it again, then put in concentrated effort.

Actually, I didn't have the time to come here, but I felt so much that I wanted to give you a good start, so I came yesterday and went fishing at four o'clock in the morning. Today I am here with you. Tomorrow I may go out too, but that will be the last day. I cannot stay with you all summer, so please, do your best. The last ten years, I devoted every single day of the season out on the ocean. Rain or shine, I went out. Literally, rain or shine. There were storm warnings and still I went out. One time there was a storm coming and everyone could see it clearly, but in the middle of the night I said, "Let's go." The captain obeyed and we went out. I've gone out in the midst of a frenzied ocean and endured it. And then, in the morning I came back in, having won over that.

While I was in the boat waiting for the tuna to come, I thought over and over again of the providence in America and planned what to do. I thought about the problem of world hunger and planned what to do step by step. I didn't just think one or two years ahead, not like that. Instead, I thought about hundreds of years to come and what to do to prepare for that. I thought about how to farm the tuna and how it could be nurtured and used for millions of pounds of nutritional food in the future. I thought like that all the time. There is nothing that I didn't think of in the long hours while I was waiting for the tuna to come.

Every morning I went out, no matter how early. I was always full of hope and expectation for that day. I came back when the sun was setting, returning with elation that I had done my very best for that day and wondering what the next day had in store for me. I expect you to take pride and to go the same path that I have gone. You are now privileged to tread the very same path that I have walked these past ten years.

You cannot complain about anything. You are inheriting everything. The ocean has a great and wonderful future. I know it. You believe it. Who is that future for? For who? For us? For America. You came here, not because of your leader, but because God was calling you. You are here because of God's calling. You have to know how special it is to be here. Don't complain about being here.

I spent ten years preparing everything for you. From now we really have to go out on the ocean and inherit everything that is there. It is there, waiting for you. If you miss this point, you will miss something great in the future. I have been so serious to make the standard -- for you! Please remember this. If you don't make a foundation, then someone else will come and take it from you.

I did not pioneer all these areas for that. I have pioneered Gloucester, the Gulf and now Alaska. Many people already stayed here, but they never thought about my effort. No matter how early, I woke up and worked hard all day. Many young people would never work as hard. If you Americans don't take this from me, I will give it to the Japanese. If they don't want it, I will bring Korean members to inherit everything. If they don't, I will get the blessed children and make them take the inheritance. Do you understand? Are you clear about this point? Do you know what I mean?

From this moment, make up your mind. We start the program from this moment. Each day is a step towards the future. May God bless you.

A Life of Living with True Love

Sun Myung Moon
July 1, 1984

What kind of being is the God who created this universe and its laws? He is the one who stands in the representative position of having lived for the sake of others more than anyone else. This is God. Therefore, in order to meet Him, you have to live for the sake of others. Even though He is the great king of knowledge, He does not ask you to come to Him with knowledge. God is also the great king of power, yet He does not ask you to come with power. He is also the master and great king of authority, money, and material things, but His desire is not for people to gather these things. If you live for the sake of others, everything can come to you.

…

We should know that living for the sake of the self brings about evil, but acting for the sake of the whole brings development. When you live for the sake of the whole, every door will be opened to you. The doors of the individual, family, tribe, a people, world, and heaven will open; everything will open its door and welcome you. Living for the sake of others is a universal truth that you need in order to establish the true way of life. It is a principle that can apply everywhere, and is unchanging for eternity. Since it transcends the past, present, and future, one should always live for the sake of others. If God appears in front of Jesus or Mohammed or saints such as Confucius and Buddha and asks what they think about this truth, would they answer that it is right or wrong? It is a universal principle and law for humankind to live their lives in this true way.

…

The Unification Church teaches the heavenly law that dictates that we were born for the sake of others and we must follow the path of living for the sake of others.

…

What should you do to receive the love of the Parents? You must love everything that is loved by Parents. Only then can you receive love from them. In a family, if a son wants to be loved by his parents, he needs to understand that he can only receive love from them when he loves everything that they own. If someone wants to receive love without doing this, he is no better than a thief. If a child claims everything that is valued by his parents just because he wants to, he cannot receive love from them.

…

God's love is to love not only all the things of creation and all humankind but all the people of the past, present, and future. Therefore, God is working to liberate even the spirits of people who have passed into hell. Human beings must go the way of truth, life, and love. No matter how great you may be, if you do not have a foundation of living for the sake of others, nothing will follow you. On the other hand, someone who lives for the sake of others will naturally become the subject being. He will become a person of true life.

A Life of Living with True Love

Sun Myung Moon
July 1, 1984

What should you do to receive the love of the Parents? You must love everything that is loved by Parents. Only then can you receive love from them. In a family, if a son wants to be loved by his parents, he needs to understand that he can only receive love from them when he loves everything that they own. If someone wants to receive love without doing this, he is no better than a thief. If a child claims everything that is valued by his parents just because he wants to, he cannot receive love from them.

…

The Unification Church teaches the heavenly law that dictates that we were born for the sake of others and we must follow the path of living for the sake of others.

…

What kind of being is the God who created this universe and its laws? He is the one who stands in the representative position of having lived for the sake of others more than anyone else. This is God. Therefore, in order to meet Him, you have to live for the sake of others. Even though He is the great king of knowledge, He does not ask you to come to Him with knowledge. God is also the great king of power, yet He does not ask you to come with power. He is also the master and great king of authority, money, and material things, but His desire is not for people to gather these things. If you live for the sake of others, everything can come to you.

…

We should know that living for the sake of the self brings about evil, but acting for the sake of the whole brings development. When you live for the sake of the whole, every door will be opened to you. The doors of the individual, family, tribe, a people, world, and heaven will open; everything will open its door and welcome you.

Living for the sake of others is a universal truth that you need in order to establish the true way of life. It is a principle that can apply everywhere, and is unchanging for eternity. Since it transcends the past, present, and future, one should always live for the sake of others. If God appears in front of Jesus or Mohammed or saints such as Confucius and Buddha and asks what they think about this truth, would they answer that it is right or wrong? It is a universal principle and law for humankind to live their lives in this true way.

Senator Orin Hatch, Republican of Utah and Senator Dennis DeConcini, Democrat of Arizona question Rev. Sun Myung Moon before a US Senate Subcommittee

June 26, 1984
United States Senate Hearing, Washington D.C.

Senator Hatch: Reverend Moon, thank you for your perspective and your testimony here today. I think it's very important and extremely articulate, and I appreciate you delivering it in English, although I know that Korean is a much more familiar language for you. I do have a few questions that I would like to ask you.

Based on your experience as a religious leader in many different countries, what is your particular view on the relationship between church and state? Should there be an attempt to have an absolute separation between church and government, or is some measure of government involvement desirable in your opinion?

Reverend Moon (Translated by Col. Bo Hi Pak): Mr. Chairman, you touched upon a very fundamental issue separation between church and state. I primarily support the separation between church and state. I'd like to say, however, there must be always some relationship between church and state. Complete separation is neither possible nor desirable. But then we must know the relationship between church and state. What is the government? Government is like a body, whereas the church is like the spirit of a man. Between the spirit and body, there must be harmonious give and take. However, we must understand which side is subject. The spirit of man is the subject of man, the body is object. Therefore, what is the government? Government is the servant of the people. Who are the people? The people are the children of God. Therefore, those people, children of God, choosing or electing the government to serve the people, therefore the church, the spiritual side of man, should be a controlling factor or an influencing factor or primary factor of man's life.

Government is there to support the well-being of the spiritual life of man. For that reason, I really know that the important thing is the understanding of this relationship between church and state.

Nowadays, however, this particular trend has been distorted or reversed. The government is becoming a tyranny, an oppressor of the church. The body is trying to govern the human mind or spirit, which is impossible. This is my very basic understanding of the separation between church and state, Mr. Chairman.

Senator Hatch: Thank you. When you first came to this country, Reverend Moon, what were your first impressions concerning the latitude your church was given in spreading your particular religious viewpoint and, of course, seeking converts? Did you generally feel free to do whatever you wanted to, with regard to your missionary efforts?

Reverend Moon: Mr. Chairman, when I first came to America in 1971, there was no organized persecution of our religion and its members. We held spiritual revivals in all fifty states, and I was even given 850 or more citations and honorary citizenships by the mayors and the governors of this nation. But then what happened? Things have changed. First, the public, particularly the media, began to perceive my opposition to God-denying communism. For some reason, anticommunism in this country is very unpopular. At the same time, for some reason, the media did not seem to like my position against communism. I have been known as an archenemy, as I said in my testimony, against communism. And there are forces who are out to destroy me. They have done that in Korea, they have done that in Japan, they sort of imported into this country the same tactics, and the same kind of message such as myths of brainwashing, myths of deprogramming, myths of a KCIA situation. All these rehashed what the Japanese communists perpetuated upon me in their criticism of me.

Under those kind of situations, a very difficult and unfavorable climate has been created. I have been under constant persecution. The "Moonie" is looked at in this country rather scornfully. My young people, my followers in this country, have heroically gone through incredible oppression and suffering. I respect them, I love them, I truly declare them the true heroes of America.

But now, gradually, we're coming out of the dark era, so to speak. However, of course, you know what I'm facing today. Now, more and more, the public is coming to realize the Unification Church is here truly to serve America, patriotically denying any type of totalitarian system or God-denying ideology. I look to the future, and I am going to be a sacrifice for the awakening of this nation to rally around-as I said, I feel deeply honored. But I want you to understand our Unification path in this country was not an easy one, it was a very difficult one; on the state level, local level and, you know, federal level, I have been mistreated in so many ways. My skin, my religion, have become a target for some reason. You know my destiny today. However, I do not regret it, because this will serve a great purpose for God and for this nation.

Senator Hatch: Reverend Moon, I understand how deeply you feel and your strong feelings about the way your church has been treated from your viewpoint and perspective, by our government, including the IRS, the prosecutors, and of course, the courts. Do you also feel that you have been mistreated by the American people themselves, apart from governmental mistreatment?

Reverend Moon: When I came to America, I certainly expected certain opposition, because I came to America not for the status quo, but for change centered upon a God-centered world view. However, I do not blame the American people. I believe in American people, I love American people. I rather blame the circumstances, between government and media, as having created such an incredible distorted image. As I mentioned, many myths have been created, many untrue stories have been perpetuated. And all these brought the misinformation, or disinformation, to the American public. True information has not been given out to the people. The people rather are victims of ignorance of the truth about our movement, about me. But I do have great Americans who supported me, who understood me. I salute them, Mr. Chairman, upon this occasion.

Senator Hatch: Thank you, Reverend Moon. I'd like to ask you just one more question. I'd like you to know that I'm fully aware of your ongoing litigation, and will understand if you prefer not to answer until you've had time to consult with your lawyers. But I'd like to know-just for the record here today-were you, or were you not, the owner of the Chase Manhattan Bank funds and the stock you were accused of owning in the government's case against you? And if not, then who did that money and stock belong to?

Reverend Moon: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask all the good people in this room the common-sense question: If you want to cheat the government and you happen to have cash, would you like to bring it to a Chase Manhattan Bank account, under your name? I don't think so. You would rather go to Switzerland, or the Cayman Islands-anywhere-if you really want to defraud the government or cheat the government of taxes. This is absolutely untrue, but was perpetuated by the persecution by the government. The government has been trying to find, for a long time, some cause to blame me. They found a cause here.

To make a long story short, I say to you, the money and stock belonged to the church. The donors at that early time, in the pioneering stage of our movement in the United States, asked me to permit my name to be used as an initial account of our church for the international movement, because for them, my name is the embodiment of the church. For that reason, they asked me whether they could use my name. I told them, "Upon your wishes, I will grant that permission." That is what actually happened. In 1976, when our church founded the foundation in this country, we turned over that account into an official corporation known as "The Unification Church International."

In other words, the Chase Manhattan Bank account has been transferred, in its entirety, to the account of the Unification Church International. Under that name, that operation is still continuing for the sake of the world.

As you know, I understand according to the legal description, what I have done. It is a common practice in this country that mainline leaders of the religious community, pastors, are doing as a time-honored practice. Furthermore, I understand also--I hope I'm not wrong-in the Catholic Church, they always require to have certain property under the leadership's name, a so-called "Corporate Sole." As you can see, what I have done was absolutely normal, absolutely proper, but the government could not find any other reason to come after me, so they used me and prosecuted me, knowing they could win the battle by exploiting my unpopularity with the public in this country. That was precisely what happened, Mr. Chairman.

Senator DeConcini: It concerns me, Reverend Moon, whenever the Internal Revenue Service is involved in enforcing our laws because I have, on many occasions, objected to some of their tactics--on the other hand, the IRS has also been attributed with many convictions on tax cases from individual Americans who have escaped many other alleged offenses. I wonder, if in your judgment or opinion, you feel that the Internal Revenue here has sought to bring action against you for violating our income tax because of any other actions other than the religious affiliation of your church?

Reverend Moon: Senator, yes. As you know, the other witnesses so eloquently testified already to the incredible encroachment of the IRS in every phase of human life in this country. But in our case, in the Unification Church case, we are an extraordinary target to them, for some reason. We can see many reasons why they are doing it, but they are doing it.

For example, an IRS agent came to our church, staying several months, years-using our offices, and scrutinizing our church operations. That is only one particular example. There are many other examples of unreasonable treatment by the United States government and the IRS agency. Particularly in my own tax situation, for example, in order to be a very law-abiding citizen, I employed a very important CPA, Price Waterhouse, to be my advisor. I want to be correct, I don't want to make a mistake about this. And I have more than one lawyer advising me.

I faithfully followed a law-abiding and reputable firm's recommendation, and still they go after me, and they got me.

Senator DeConcini: Did those firms recommend that the accounts be in your name?

Reverend Moon: Absolutely! Particularly when I came to this country, I did not even understand one word of English at that time. I was, in a way, helpless. I was relying on professionals-the best professionals available in this country.

And I followed every step of the way such as the CPA, the lawyers, and for them, there is absolutely nothing improper in what I am doing.

Senator DeConcini: Except in the face of the law now. And the conviction of course, subject to appeal. I guess appeal has been had. In fact, your advisors turned out to be wrong isn't that correct?

Reverend Moon: That is the very reason the religious community is protesting against the improper injustice wrought upon us. In other words, under the circumstances through which I became a victim, no one is safe, no one in this country is safe. You just give me your tax return, they have a way to prosecute you tomorrow. This kind of situation.

Senator DeConcini: I appreciate, Reverend Moon, the great amount of authority and power that the Internal Revenue Service has. But, I also appreciate the American system of justice where we are tried by our peers, by jurors, and you had such a trial, did you not? Let's say that [the IRS] did do something improper. Weren't you protected by the fact that you had your day in court with ample opportunity to refute the charges, to be heard by a jury of peers? And yet they came to the conclusion that indeed there was a violation of the law. It seems to me that there are two different problems here. One may be [the IRS] picking on someone because they dislike you, which is unfair and shouldn't happen. And yet the other is the criminal justice system that tries people in, I think, probably the most impartial way of any country that I know of. I don't know of a better way, and it seems like we ought to distinguish the two and focus perhaps only on the IRS and not on the criminal justice system. Because if you've been persecuted by the criminal justice system, you've been persecuted by the American people, and you've testified that you don't feel that way, that it's the government arm that has done something wrong to you.

Reverend Moon: Mr. Senator, I do still have respect for American judicial system, but I have great misgiving about the deed of the government-not only the IRS, Justice Department, prosecution and so forth. For example, if I understood correctly, I'm sure the constitutional scholars can answer you much better than me, I understood that the jury system in this country is organized for the added protection for the defendant.

So I did not want a jury trial. That was a constitutional right I could claim. I wanted to be judged by the law, by good judges, and the government punished me in forcing the jury trial upon me. What kind of justice is that? You know, they really used the Constitution against me instead of protecting me.

Senator DeConcini: Are you saying that a trial by one single person, a judge, is a more fair trial than a trial by a jury of impartial citizens?

Reverend Moon: Not in every case, Mr. Senator, but in my case. Because we knew of the conspiracy by some officials to get me. They can only get me by going the route of jury.

Exploiting the unpopularity of my mission, perpetuated by misinformation unfortunately. Jesus Christ got the jury trial and he got the verdict.

This is the reason I wanted to be tried by a decent judge.

Senator DeConcini: Mr. Moon, you may make any equations you want to with your outstanding leadership as to Jesus Christ, but I take offense to that. We're not here comparing religions, we are here trying to find out something about the system.

My point is this, that I have read about this case and I have some very deep qualms about the Internal Revenue [Service] as I have had for many years and I realize that the government is run by people, and that people have certain biases. But I find a contradiction here, Reverend Moon, in that you indicate that our jury system is not acceptable to you, that is provided by our Constitution. I suspect that had that jury system found you not guilty, you would find it very acceptable. And it seems to me that if your complaint here before the Congress is that someone has picked on you and done something that they shouldn't, it ought to be an inquiry into the Justice Department and Internal Revenue service and not blaming a jury. Unless you have some proof to offer here that this jury was tampered with and that indeed there was some violation of the law on behalf of the prosecutor or the investigator as to the individual jurors.

Now I have not yet heard that from you nor have I seen that reported as a result of the covering your trial, and I think it's important that we distinguish whether or not you're really calling into question the fact of a fair jury trial in your case or in our criminal justice system.

Reverend Moon: May I say this to you sir, that prior to the jury trial we conducted a survey by an objective professional company in regards to public opinion. [They inquired] "Maybe you will become a member of the jury for the Reverend Moon case, what would you do?" It turned out that 60% of the people who participated in that survey stated: "I would convict Reverend Moon regardless." Mr. Senator, if you were in my position under those circumstances, would you want a jury trial?

Senator DeConcini: Well, my answer to that is that I would ask for a different place to have the trial, maybe that was petitioned by your attorneys, I don't know.

Reverend Moon: I want you to understand that the media really did a thorough job. There's no place I can go that can give me a fair trial.

Senator DeConcini: If that's the case then I take it that you would set yourself apart from all other citizens based on the publicity and the media presentation of your church and your problem is that it was impossible to have a fair trial in the United States of America. Is that a fair statement?

Reverend Moon: This is why my option was to be tried by the judge. As I said, I believed in the judicial system of this country. I thought I could have fair trial by the judge. As you know, when I was indicted I was in Korea. I returned to this country to face the trial voluntarily, even though knowing Korea and the United States have no extradition treaty, because I am innocent. I wanted to come to face the trial, I wanted to get a fair trial, I wanted to be vindicated. Those were my wishes. The reason I am saying this to you because it's not only me. So many people like me and behind me in history, there are many othersmany ethnic groups, many foreigners, many Americans, oppressed Americans, they shall be condemned like me in the future. In this way government can clearly get those innocent people so that I feel our movement must stop injustice once and for all.

Senator DeConcini: Mr. Chairman, I will cease and I thank the Chairman for his courtesies. I can only say that having been a prosecutor and prosecuted literally dozens of defendants, never once have I won where the jury returned the verdict and the defendant said "yes, I'm guilty." I think it is most inherent in human nature, to want to defend yourself, and I admire you Reverend Moon for defending yourself. That's part of our system and you have every right to do that and to continue to claim your innocence regardless of any change in the appeal system. But I also have to say for the record that I think there is a contradiction here. You can't have it both ways; you can't have the freedoms of America when the jury trial turns out the way you want it, and you cannot condemn the whole system when it turns out that it doesn't favor you. It seems to me like your grievance here is more with the Internal Revenue Service, one that I'm very sympathetic with. Many constituents have had problems with the Internal Revenue Service and that's where the complaint should lie, not with our criminal justice system and trial by jury, because, standing your conviction, the little bit I know about it, you had a fair trial. And unfortunately it didn't turn out that way in your beliefs, and the followers', but there still may be a problem with what underlying investigation and prosecution brought you to the trial and that to me is worthwhile delving into. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator Hatch: Well, if I could add something to it. I used to defend some of these cases in federal court and I can't ever recall a case when the defendant in his best interest for his own protection, asked for a non-jury trial where the prosecutor came in and demanded a jury trial. Now I am sure there are instances and the prosecution apparently has the right to do it. But one of the constitutional issues that was raised in this case rightly or wrongly, and I think rightly is, whether or not the defendant has the right to make that determination. And I think it is the case of first impression which has basically been denied by the lower court. And certiorari has been denied by the Supreme Court, but it has not resolved that question.

My concerns with your case, Reverend Moon, of course are based on the United States Constitution, specifically the First Amendment. Now, I believe, among other things, that the trial judge should have cautioned and instructed the jury to not, under any circumstances, substitute the lay views of the jury members for the good faith position taken by your own church. I think that was a mistake, I think it was wrong, I think it was legal error. I think it was constitutional error. In fact the judge specifically instructed the jury to disregard religion entirely in this matter. And I don't know ...I'm sure he did that. In my reading of the sterile record, I believe that he did that because he was worried about this backlash and this problem that Reverend Moon had with a large majority of the people in America at that particular time and perhaps the prejudices that existed at the time. So he probably did that for the best of purposes.

But in this particular case, whether you were entitled to hold these funds in trust, or these properties in trust, was a major issue and in this particular case you can't divorce that from the consideration of religion. And, I can't blame you for not wanting a jury trial when the polls were showing most people in this country were somewhat prejudiced against you. I don't know that I can blame the prosecutor for demanding a jury trial knowing that fact. But I think it's a significant constitutional issue whether the defendant in a country where the defendant's rights are always held paramount over the rights of the prosecution, and that his rights should be solicitously guarded, that he should not have the right to have a trial before a duly nominated and confirmed sitting federal judge.

So those are great issues, and I did not interpret, Senator DeConcini, [Rev. Moon's] comments to mean that he doesn't trust the jury system in this country. I think he does. I think what he was concerned about was whether he could get a fair trial with the attitude that was permeating our media, rightly or wrongly, and our country with regard to his own church. And I think his point is a good point, coming from a minority religion which is now the fifth largest in the United States of America, but in its day was a distinct minority religion. I know that some of our church leaders [the Mormon Church] did not have a very good opportunity for a fair trial and would not have had under those circumstances. So I hope you're not criticizing the criminal justice system of this country or the jury system, in which both Senator DeConcini and I have profound belief. But I do think this in a unique situation that really deserves some constitutional consideration.

Reverend Moon (through Colonel Pak): Mr. Chairman, Reverend Moon asked me to thank you for your comments, also Senator DeConcini, thank you for your care and concern. And we both thank you.

America and Religious Freedom

Sun Myung Moon
June 26, 1984
United States Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA
Senate Constitutional Subcommittee Hearing on Religious Liberty

Photo date and location unknown

Honorable chairman, distinguished members of the Senate, ladies and gentlemen:

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to you for inviting me to speak at this Senate hearing on religious freedom. I want to also express my sincere gratitude, Mr. Chairman, for your support in favor of my appeal to the Supreme Court. Your noble deed to uphold the principle of constitutional rights of individuals will be long admired by millions of Americans.

America and freedom of religion

Since the Supreme Court refused to review my case, there has been a very strong protest by many members of the religious community. More than a thousand clergymen, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, have pledged to commit one week of their lives in prison with me in the name of religious freedom. It moves me deeply. I salute these champions of religious freedom.

I feel this occasion is historic. I am not just speaking to the United States Congress. I am speaking to history and before God.

God loves America. America’s greatness does not lie in her vast resources or in her tremendous prosperity. It lies in the very spirit upon which this nation was founded. That is the spirit of “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.” However, God’s Will is not just one nation under God, it is one world under God. We are all brothers and sisters, one human family. When we all recognize God as our Father, this ideal can become a reality.

Without religious freedom, however, God cannot fulfill His ideal. The nation’s founders understood that if you do not have religious freedom, you have no freedom at all. They risked their very lives to secure freedom of worship.

Now, that freedom of worship is in danger. A blind spirit of atheism and religious intolerance is found in America today, and this time there is no other “New World” to receive us as pilgrims. We have no choice but to restore America as the land of religious freedom. If we do not, this nation will perish, and the world will perish.

I was called to come to America and carry out my mission

In 1971 God called me to come to America and lead a movement to revive the fervor of Christianity and restore the founding spirit of this nation. God has sent me to America in the role of a doctor and a firefighter. He has sent me to bring about a dramatic spiritual awakening. The survival of the entire world depends on America fulfilling its responsibility. America is the last bastion of freedom. For the last twelve years I have given my heart and soul and every drop of my sweat and tears for the sake of this nation.

In the process of fulfilling this mission, I have become controversial and in some quarters unpopular. And I have been persecuted. However, I am by no means the first religious leader to have experienced persecution.

Many of the major religious figures in the Judeo-Christian tradition have walked this path of suffering through persecution. Today, I am honored to follow the same tradition.

I believe that God’s hope is for freedom on the earth, and the greatest threat to freedom today is totalitarianism, particularly in the form of communism, which systematically opposes freedom of religion. Communism has killed more than 150 million people. I myself suffered nearly to the point of death in a communist prison camp. Communism is the worst inhumanity in the world today.

Freedom has been retreating for the past decade. In 1975 freedom retreated from Southeast Asia. Millions of people perished. Nation after nation in Africa and Latin America has been communized. One-and-ahalf billion people have fallen under communist tyranny so far. Now Central America, in the neighborhood of the United States, is the front line of the battle. I know that the enemies of freedom will not stop until they achieve their final goal: the conquest of this very nation, the United States of America.

Accomplishments during my twelve years in America

I supported Ronald Reagan for president because I hoped he would do God’s Will to stop the spread of communism and truly bring this nation back to God and to her founding spirit. It is disappointing that under this man, who was elected with the tremendous support of the religious community, the state is encroaching more than ever on the affairs of the church. For the first time, ministers are being jailed. Truly, religious freedom is being dealt a devastating blow.

In the last twelve years, I have done everything I could for America. I have had just one goal in mind: to strengthen the moral fiber of America and enlarge her capacity to fulfill God’s Will.

Through projects such as the International Religious Foundation, the New Ecumenical Research Association and the conferences on “God: The Contemporary Discussion,” I have sought to bring teachers of all faiths together to better understand God and one another.

I have also worked to bring God’s Will into the academic world. The International Cultural Foundation sponsors annual conferences on science and absolute values, and brings scholars together in organizations such as the Professors World Peace Academy, Paragon House Publishers and the Washington Institute for Values in Public Policy.

In the area of cultural expression, I have endeavored to reinforce the theme of reverence toward God. In the movie Inchon, for example, I have tried to portray the historic importance of General Douglas MacArthur, a great American devoted to God and humanity. It is vital for American young people to understand this heroic figure.

Because religious ideals need to be expressed in service to humanity, I initiated the International Relief Friendship Foundation and Project Volunteer.

To work toward the liberation of all people from totalitarian ideologies, I established the International Federation for Victory over Communism, the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, and CAUSA International.

To set a standard of responsibility in the communications media, we founded the World Media Association and News World Communications, both of which publish several newspapers. One of these, The Washington Times, was created to present an alternative view of the news to the people of the nation’s capital. This project alone has cost our movement more than $100 million.

These projects have required a vast amount of financial resources, as well as the hard work and loving sacrifice of committed church members. We have poured several hundred million dollars into America, because this nation will decide the destiny of the entire world. These contributions are primarily coming from overseas. The United States has been a recipient of these funds, not a source of them. I have acted in the firm belief that if America is lost, everything is lost. There is no other country God can turn to.

Religious persecution in the courts of America

When you understand the scope of my work, can you really believe I came to America to defraud the government of $25,000? From the very beginning this was not a tax case. It has been an invasion by the government into the internal affairs of religion. They chose the Unification Church because they thought no one would come to our defense. However, this is where they miscalculated. The religious community of America knows that unless everyone is safe, no one is safe, that when one is threatened, all are threatened.

When the government abuses its authority, the consequences are fearsome. It was the Roman state that crucified Jesus Christ. In this country, it was the state that burned “witches,” persecuted Roman Catholics, shunned Jews and prolonged black slavery. It was the state that allowed Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to be killed by a mob while he was in prison. It is the state that is coming after me, and in the process violating the religious freedom of everyone. We must stop this trend now. If we do not, then who is next?

In the providence of God, the case of Reverend Moon has become a rallying point for religious freedom in the United States. I stand convicted for no other reason than my religious beliefs and practices. I am to be punished for being who I am. This has shocked and awakened the conscience of America. Many religious leaders and believers of all faiths have stood up in outrage. They are registering their protests. Most important of all, they are united. Their unity will ensure the survival of America.

A great confrontation

The greatest confrontation in the world today is not the United States versus the Soviet Union, capitalism versus socialism, or even democracy versus communism. It is faith in God versus the denial of God.

The communist world, based on atheism, has failed to fulfill the human dream. The free world, on the other hand, has become materialistic and has forgotten God, and it is helpless in the face of the grave world crisis. The world is dark with confusion. A new vision must emerge, a new worldview centered on God. I am teaching that worldview, which is based on God’s heart of love. I call it Godism. I proclaim that this ideal will provide a new solution to the world.

Godism can unite all religious people and all people of conscience. This worldview will bring unity among enemies and enemy nations. It will bring true freedom of the human spirit. This ideal will usher in the realization of the kingdom of God on earth.

This worldview, a system of thought comprehensive and electrifying, has led many people to a personal experience with God. The effect has been so dramatic that in some quarters it has been labeled “brainwashing.” This is the reason I have been misunderstood in some circles of the establishment and the media. The communists, who regard me as their archenemy, have exploited this misunderstanding in their attempt to destroy me.

In spite of the difficulties involved, I am honored to dedicate myself today to the preservation of religious freedom in this country. If I can raise a beacon warning Americans of the danger that lies ahead, then my sacrifice will serve a great purpose.

The issue today is the very survival of America and the free world. To assure this survival, I am willing to suffer any indignity, to go any distance, to do any labor and to bear any cross. I am even willing to give my life, if that would ensure that the nation and world would survive and do God’s Will.

God bless America

Today, I carry no animosity toward anyone. Jesus Christ modeled the tradition of forgiveness when he prayed on the cross for those who crucified him. I am upholding that tradition. I long ago forgave my accusers. I feel no hostility toward the United States government.

Instead I pray for this country. I thank God that He is using me as His instrument to lead the fight for religious freedom and to ignite the spiritual awakening of America in this most crucial hour of human history.

Mr. Chairman, once again, I thank you for this opportunity. I would like to conclude by saying, “God bless America.”

Father's Way

Sun Myung Moon
June 1, 1984
East Garden
Translator: San Kil Han (Through many parts True Father was speaking in English) Compiled from the original tape and notes by Brigitte Osterheld

This is the last part of True Father sharing his heart intimately with a smaller group of leaders and missionaries in East Garden, June 1, 1984. Father had tried before to inspire and push through the new project of delivering food to Christian communities with the new trucks he wanted to buy.)

…

Father: Do everything like a lightning, not slowly but speedy. We do this way and care for nothing else, for some years and then some of you don't want to run for congress but you will find yourself sure in congress whether you like it or not, people will make you congress man. Would America perish then? No.

I know the miserable way. Which way are you to take? The normal or abnormal way? (Abnormal) Formal way or informal way? (Informal) Possible or impossible way? (Impossible)

…

Rev. Moon likes formal or informal way? (Informal) Rev. Moon likes possible way or impossible? (Impossible) This is Incredible, out of common sense!

How about God? Which way, do you think, God will prefer? To follow man's decision is formal way. True Father likes to put in front of everything "in" "im" "un". It is different from American way or the ordinary way.

Moonies like the convenient or inconvenient way? (Inconvenient!) Ahhh ... (Father is making a funny sound, because he doesn't believe us)

…

Always in Father's life Father chose the impossible way. You like ME, but you don't like Father's WAY. What about God then? God may not like Father but He likes Father's WAY.

God chose what? God didn't choose Rev. Moon but Rev. Moon's way. This is different.

How about you, Moonies? What you chose? (Father's way!) No, you chose Father! Moonies don't like Father's way!

Which one is most successful? Father or Father's way? (Father's way) Now you know…

The highest heaven is guaranteed if you follow Father's way.

Father has been cultivating that Father's Way because Father knows that's the best, it is necessary. That's why Father thought and acted like crazy. Father thought that morning was evening, that evening dust was the morning dawn – he couldn't distinguish them. He didn't even know whether he had lunch or what particular day in that moment was… Father lived this incredible way of life to be wise, going Father's way. All of Father's life Father kept himself busy to make sure that Father's Way could be understood.

Father always lived such a way of life like a marathon champion, running with this goal imminent every 100 meters, but you never know who will be the first, so Father kept on running just as if the goal was a 100 meters away. Father did that all his life. And this is exactly the way God has been feeling, and so Father couldn't feel in a different way.

Many people say that if you sleep with your clothes on you cannot feel rested, but Father knows that's wrong, that's ironic. Father, when he was really tired and was falling asleep without realizing it, then when he woke up after a few hours he felt most refreshed. It doesn't make a difference if he slept with clothes off or on.

That is the Heaven Father is going to. Are you all prepared to go to the same Heaven as Father? That kind of Heaven? Without living like that our conscience cannot permit us to stay in the same heaven as Father, it cannot permit us.

During these last two years along with the court trial; if Father didn't prepare in these two years; where would we be today? We would be quite unprepared. That's what Father never wanted to see: Miserable conditions, the miserable situation of Moonies, persecuted and martyred Moonies. That's what Father didn't want to see because Father saw already in the North Korean prison what the fate of the Moonies could be. That is one thing Father wanted to prevent. That's why Father lived like crazy. We are living different from the time when Father was in the North Korean prison because Father prepared. These are serious thoughts but most of us don't like serious thoughts.

…

When the rain falls down then the same rain falls down where he is. All of us have that experience.

Until now Father never felt that he was outdone by any patriot that has ever lived in America.

Father knew that he was working harder for the cause of patriotism in America than any patriots

…

Father knows that the last thing that God wants to see is that America perishes. Since Father knew this, Father pushed himself. Father doesn't want to be boastful to Americans, but Father wants that at least one American who can learn this. Father knows what he has done for this country and can leave without any regret or expectation that his hard work be realized and appreciated by American people. Father couldn't care less.

Do Father's job, work, then no regret.

Father is more interested that after living together with you for 10 years, more than 10 years, Father would like to see what YOU will become in the future. That's much more the concern of Father than how America would treat him. By the time when Father will leave America

…

Father no longer will be with us, with you here. Father knows that. Even if Father leaves this country God must remain in this country. Do you know what that means? Even if Father leaves this country, God must remain in this country; to make sure that the world survives God must remain even after Father leaves this country.

In the meantime when Father will be aged and go to spirit world, Father would feel: My hard work in the past and even now I would feel rewarded when and if American members, namely you, in your late forties, in your early fifties with your white hair showing, come to Father, visit Father while Father is living in Korea and bow down deeply and perhaps with tears thank Father for what he did. And when Father sees such American members then Father would be consoled and feel rewarded. Father is not watching at himself, to decide if he is happy or unhappy, but Father is looking at YOU, according to the outcome of you, HOW you will become, that makes Father happy or unhappy. That is serious thinking that Father is doing now in these days. When Father thinks like that is this a good thinking or bad? (Good thinking) Good for whom? For Father himself? It is a good thinking in the view of God's providence.

…

Father is looking at YOU, literally looking at you, and wishing that one day you will be the second God, you will be the small God, and that is what Father is waiting and praying for, nothing else.

Whether Father has tremendous influence in the world or anything, that's small compared to what Father looks YOU to be.

…

When Father has this trying time it's not so much of Father we have to worry about but very much about ourselves, our future. Father feels much the same way as when Jesus said to the disciples when they were sorrowful: "Do not worry or weep over me, but weep over your own descendants". That's much the same as what Father feels. Do you understand what Father is saying? When Father goes away then there will be no one in this country who would cry, weep, or worry about his death and over the future of America. That's what Father is worried about. For more than 10 years in his life in America Father worked for that goal, with this intensity, and no one of us can deny that one fact. Do you understand?

First we must feel responsible. We must realize that in the course of the last few years of our intense activities here in America many European members dropped out; they just couldn't make it and also Japanese members couldn't hold themselves together and dropped off on that foundation for all our survival. Sometimes Father feels: If I didn't bring those Europeans from their own countries to America, maybe they wouldn't have dropped out. In the same way, if he had left Japanese members in Japan, even though they would have gone through incredible difficulties, they wouldn't have dropped off, they could continue. Father feels responsible for that. So, the Japanese and the Europeans members that came to this country, you should find them and praise them, be sympathetic with them. You should find them to do that rather than have them criticize Americans, feeling disgusted about Americans. You should never allow yourself to become like that. Even American people themselves internally no one says: Oh, the American government did right to Rev. Moon. All with a deep in heart feel: There is something wrong in America... this is not right. This is the way Americans feel. We feel sorry to Father.

…

In the following Father is speaking mostly in English and with a low voice. It was very difficult to understand him from the tape. Here is what I have from the notes I made in that time):

Where in this point, was America indebted to Father or Father indebted to America? How about all of us? Is Father indebted to us or are we indebted to Father?

When we fundraised and we did incredible activities, if we ever complained, we didn't know that Father was always worse off than any members in difficulties. When you know that this was true, don't you feel ashamed?

That's a sad situation. Now we all have a heavy burden. If Father is not here and we want to pay him back, you cannot, only you have this time now, following that way, you did in front of Father and God. Do you follow me? Time goes so quickly, these three years are so historical, how precious is this time for you, to complete everything. This is so serious.

Father paved the way; you didn't have to do anything. How can you stand in the presence of God and Father? Do you follow me! DON'T LOSE THIS TIME, this precious time, don't lose it

…

When you think about Father… Father needs much much money to prepare activities. Father had to pay so much money, i.e. the NCCSA movement, 250 trucks, almost six million dollars and mobile homes for the tours, 8.5 million dollars. So much money in such a few months; where does this money come from? And the Washington Times is now starting …

Think about how much money we need.

You didn't think so much about Father's situation…. We have many missionary countries, with difficult situations, they asking for help. Every day I hear reports, not good news, but bad news. Now in missionary countries there are complicated situations. Father doesn't have a country with … foundation.

Father is like a moving cloud, pushed in the wind, from east to west, he is in that kind of situation.

We cannot stick to a place, settle in a place.

My history is a lonely one, like a lonely gypsy, not knowing where I will be next… Father lives in that kind of situation.

Heavenly Father knew his situation, how difficult it was. There was only one who knew, that was God. There are many complicated situations. God helps Rev. Moon.

In this court case, it is the same situation. I cannot complain. I know the will of God. There is only one who knows the situation of Father, and this is Heavenly Father. I cannot feel comfortable.
Father can never change. God cannot help a changeable person.