Moon-Founded Washington Times Publicizes Mass "Moonie" Wedding

WASHINGTON TIMES PUBLICIZES MASS WEDDING ON PAGE TWO PERFORMED BY ITS OWN FOUNDER AND SELF-PROCLAIMED MESSIAH REV. SUN MYUNG MOON;

REPORTER COVERING THE EVENT IS MEMBER OF MOON'S UNIFICATION CHURCH; CONFLICT OF INTEREST ANYONE?

FOR COMPLETE STORY ON THE WASHINGTON TIMES AND MOON'S PRO-COMMUNIST, PRO-U.N. PHILOSOPHY, CLICK HERE: http://www.usasurvival.org/moon-un.html

A gathering of 700 clergy and their spouses renewed marital vows here yesterday to symbolize their view of marriage and family as the bedrock of society.

In a "marriage blessing and renewal ceremony," presided over by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the group of mostly Christian pastors exchanged rings and declared that despite differing theologies a lifelong family commitment is the common thread of all religions.

"You know that Reverend Moon is the marrying man," said the Rev. T.L. Barrett, a Church of God in Christ minister from Chicago. "He would marry those two light bulbs, a desk and a chair, everyone, if he could."

The South Korean religious leader, who officiated with his wife of 42 years, is well-known for holding international group weddings and "blessing ceremonies," often presiding over vows exchanged by thousands of couples.

The Rev. Don Olson, a Lutheran pastor from Miami, opened the two-hour event praying, "May we transcend these [religious] barriers by renewing our vows." He said the gathering of clergy could serve as a "wake-up call to end divorce and unwed pregnancy."

The Rev. Michael Jenkins, a Unification Church minister, said the general aim of the "blessing" was to include 144,000 clergy worldwide to fulfill a biblical image of the faithful "being sealed" by God and representing "all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues."

During the ceremony, clergy in the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and American Indian traditions led prayers. The festivities were broadcast by satellite and Internet to all 50 states and dozens of countries, said organizers. They said smaller gatherings of clergy were held in other cities, with turnouts in the hundreds in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Twelve clergy who led a similar "blessing" in May circled the participants to sprinkle them with holy water, which they said signified the sanctity of marriage.

During the moment of recommitment, the couples and Rev. and Mrs. Moon faced each other and held hands. Most of the husbands wore black and the wives white, and all donned a white neck sash commemorating the event. Rev. Moon declared that the couples were "committed to becoming true husbands and wives."

The event, held at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, is part of what organizers called "a world peace blessing movement" that seeks to solve social problems by bolstering sexual morality and fidelity in marriage.

Though Rev. Moon's Unification Church helped support the event, the event was held under the auspices of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, an interdenominational organization of which Mr. Barrett, Mr. Olson and Mr. Jenkins are officers.

The clergy organization had planned the renewal ceremony for Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sept. 22 last year but postponed it because of the terrorist attacks 11 days earlier. Hundreds of the clergy traveled to Manhattan anyway for a prayer vigil next to the demolished World Trade Towers site.

Before they arrived here yesterday, many of them participated in a "family communion" ceremony that involved a spousal sharing of holy wine or juice. They said that such initiatives have helped set a tone to preach more frequently on moral values and marriage.

"I'm beginning to talk more on the subject," said the Rev. John Highsmith, who leads a small congregation in Baltimore.

Bishop Augustus C. Stallings, who left the Roman Catholic priesthood in the late 1980s to found Imani Temple, was later married in a "blessing" event, and he and his wife, Sayomi, became parents for the first time earlier this month. "My only regret is that I did not see marriage and family as part of ministry earlier in my life," he said. He advocates a choice of marriage or celibacy in the Catholic priesthood. "Priests can lead the way," he said.

From Potomac, Mrs. Ranjit Bawa and her husband attended the ceremony here to represent the Sikh faith. She said any message about lasting marriages helps young people of immigrant faiths. "We also want to teach them that God is a binding force between husband and wife," she said.

On FNC Special Report last night, Britt Hume reported that the Liberal Special Interest Group, People for the American Way was SUPPORTED by several major news organizations, including ABC, CNN, etc. Now there is a conflict of interests!

The Unification Church has little or no influence in the reporting or commentary from the Washington Times, unless you want to count the fact that the Times actually covers religious news as an influence. A couple of articles every year about the Unification Church is a small price to pay for the wonderful refreshing coveracge and commentary we get every day in the Times.

Usually, Cliff Kincaid is right on the money, but this time he is more that a little off the mark.

"Moon-Founded Washington Times..."

He didn't found it. He bought it.

"Moon's pro-communist... philosophy..."

He's always been a well-known anti-communist and continues to be." REPORTER COVERING THE EVENT IS MEMBER OF MOON'S UNIFICATION CHURCH; CONFLICT OF INTEREST ANYONE?"

I predict this thread won't be here too much longer.

The Moonies I have met have been polite, well-educated, well-groomed family people. I'm not one for organized religion of any kind, but it seems to me that a couple more cults like this wouldn't hurt.

I must say, we need more families with family businesses like the Moons'. First, we have a 1st Amendment beacon like the Washington Times. Second, we have fine firearms for 2nd Amendment affirmation from Kahr Arms.

Do I think the Moonies, as a religion, are a little weird? Heck, yes. Then again, many of the early colonists to this part of the world were considered more than a little different. At least the Moonies aren't trying to convert the world to their religion at the point of a gun, like some other "peaceful, friendly" religions in the news lately.

I see nothing wtong with renewing wedding vows or getting married in a mass ceremony.
Would I participate in a mass ceremony? Probably not. That's because I consider the sacrament of marriage a very private thing and would probably want only my own marriage to be considered at either of those times.
I wouldn't want to be wondering if the couple next to me was really committed or was only doing it for the notoriety.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.