9.9.12

Kim Jong Eun Sends Condolences to Moon Family



2012.09.08 11:05
< Workers on Wednesday prepared for the funeral for Rev. Moon Sun-myung at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong. >
North Korean state media on Wednesday conveyed condolences from Kim Jong Eun to the family of Rev. Moon Sun-myung, the leader of the Unification Church, who died on Monday.
A statement attributed to Mr. Kim said: “I express my deep condolences to widow Han Hak Ja and the bereaved family upon receiving the sad news that Moon Sun Myung, president of the World Peace Federation, died of illness. Though he passed away, his efforts and feats made for the reconciliation and unity of the nation, the reunification of the country and the world peace will last forever.”
Mr. Moon was a staunch anti-communist but, in 1991, traveled to North Korea and met Mr. Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
In his 2010 autobiography, Mr. Moon devoted three chapters (all the chapters are brief, about 5 to 10 pages) to his trip, which was significant to him because he was born in a village north of Pyongyang before the Korean peninsula was divided.
He said he spoke about reuniting divided Korean families, nuclear weapons, favorite foods, hunting and fishing with Mr. Kim. When he left, he said he told Kim Il Sung, “You are older than I, so you are like my older brother.” And Mr. Kim responded, according to Mr. Moon, “From now on, let’s refer to each other as older brother and younger brother.”
There was no indication in the condolence report whether North Korea will attempt to send a delegation to South Korea during Mr. Moon’s memorial visitation, which begins Thursday and lasts for a week. Mr. Moon sent a group to represent him for Kim Il Sung’s funeral in 1994 and for Kim Jong Il’s funeral last year.
The Unification Church on Tuesday released a list of 61 current and former world leaders who are expected to attend the memorial.

Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind Universal Seonghwa Ceremony

  
On August 14th 2012, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who is the founder of unification church, was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital at the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul due to complications of cold and pneumonia, but he was transferred to the hospital in the holy ground of the church based on the diagnosis that he cannot be recovered by modern medical science. On September 3rd, at 1:54 am, he died at the age of 92 in the Cheongshim international hospital, in Gapyeong, Kyunggi-do.
 
The mortuary of Rev. Moon is set up at Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Kyunggi-do. 'Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parents of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind' will take place at Cheogshim Peace World Center, in Gapyeong, where is the holy ground of Unification Church, on September 15th, after a 13-day mourning period. The church has 3 days of 'special praying period' and people can visit to pay respect from September 6 to 13, for 8 days. The burial site will be at Cheonseong mountain in Songsanri, Gapyeong. The head of Seonghwa Committee is Rev. Hyungjin Moon, the International President of Unification Church, the 7th son of Rev. Mooon.

Chosun Central News Agency, North Korean state media, on Sept. 5 conveyed condolences from Jong-un Kim to the family of Rev. Moon. The statement attributed to Mr. Kim said "I express my deep condolences to widow Hak Ja Han and the bereaved family upon receiving the sad news that Sun Myung Moon, president of the World Peace Federation, died of illness."
 
On Sept. 6, the first day of accepting visitors, there were full of cars and tour buses which visitors brought around Cheongshim Peace World Center from 6:00 am, and the line of visitors continued to over 100 meter. Some residents of Seolak-myun in Gapyeong-gun put out banners of condolences on the death of Rev. Moon.

In the first basement stadium, the symbol of Unification Church and portrait of Rev. Moon were placed on a stage which has three steps. Visitors went on the steps in order with lilies and roses, which were Rev. Moon's favorite flowers, and put down the flowers in front of the portrait and offered condolences. The visitors drew attention with their different dress code from other funeral suits, which are dark suit and white necktie for men and white or cream colored suit for women.
 
There were flowers and telegrams continued from various field. President Myung-bak Lee sent Mr. Injoo Park, Senior Secretary for Social Cohesion of Presidential Office, with flowers and offered condolences on the previous day. National Assembly Speaker Changhee Kang and Mrs. Heeho Lee, wife of the late Former President Daejoong Kim, and Unification Minister Wooik Ryoo sent flowers as well.

70 members of Seongnam Il Hwa soccer team and 600 students of Cheongshim international middle and high school, which are under Unification Church, and Mr. Chaejin Im, former Prosecutor General, visited the mortuary and cherished the memory of Rev. Moon on the morning of the first day. Unification church officials said "It seems that around 10,000 people including 3,000 Japanese visitors will visit to pay respect on today." and "During the visiting, we expect over 150,000 domestic and international visitors including domestic members, people of all social standings, and former and present heads of state."
 
The body of Rev. Moon is now kept in a glass coffin under low temperature and enshrined in Cheon Jong Gung, where is the memorial museum of unification church. After the casket ceremony on 14, he will be transferred to Cheongshim Peace World Center where the funeral will be held on 15.
There are 82 advisors in Seonghwa committee who are Ven. Jaseung, executive chief of Jogye Order, Mr. Cheolseung Lee, chairman of Elders meeting of Parliamentarians' Society, Mr. Soosung Lee, former Prime Minister, Mr. Heetae Park, former National Assembly Speaker and so on. And Hong-gil Go, Special Affairs Minister, Mr. Jiwon Park, floor leader of Democratic United Party, Mr. Sunkyo Han, chairman of National Assembly Committee on culture, sports, tourism, broadcasting and communications and more are included as members of Seonghwa Committee.

Unification church said "(the funeral) goes through three steps which are Gwi Hwan ceremony, the deceased leave the family and go back to heaven, Seong Hwa ceremony, for the spirit going up on heaven, and Wonjeon ceremony, to take original place of the body."  Church News - Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind Universal Seonghwa Ceremony:

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Statement of Tribute to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Condolence

For Immediate Release
From: Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr., Patriarch and Founder of the African-American Catholic Congregation and its Imani Temple, on the passing of the Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon, Co-Founder of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC), aka the Unification Church.
Contact: Minister Ginger Cornwell: 240-354-7601, ginger@gingeronsax.com
(Washington, D.C.) The family of humanity and the world community will no longer have the opportunity to be in the physical presence of one of the greatest spiritual leaders and champions of world peace in modern times. The Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon is affectionately known by thousands of clergy, heads of state as well as his followers and devotees as “Father Moon.” He has cast a wide spiritual net across a swath of humanity during a ministry of almost 76 years in a tireless effort to return the world back to God's original ideal: namely, where all men and women could recognize God as the Father of us all and each of us as brothers and sisters, one to another.
He earnestly believed that this goal could be ultimately achieved through the Ceremony of the Blessing of Marriage wherein the descendants of enemy nations, marrying one another in a cross-cultural blessing, could tear down the walls that separated and divided nations, peoples and races. I too have been a beneficiary of the Marriage Blessing Ceremony as my wife and I were matched and blessed by Father and Mother Moon.
He lived to see not only his vision blossom and bear fruit in the lives of his church members associated with the Unification Church, but also in the lives of countless faith and civic leaders and their communities, individuals and families who were touched and influenced by his uncompromising love of God and his undying passion in the pursuit of world peace.
He and his beloved wife, Mother Moon, stand as the "True Parents,” and now, as he stands in spirit with Mother Moon the presence of the love of God only will expand through them as our "True Parents" - parents in the image of God that see all humanity as God's family - regardless of race or religion.
As people of faith, we know that from the moment he met Jesus on a mountainside in Korea until today he has been faithful, and therefore he transitions now from a temporal life to an eternal life. He lives and will continue to guide, inspire and lead us to the promise land in spirit and through his beloved wife, Mother Moon.
His mantra of "living for the sake of others," "loving one's enemy," and "liberating and comforting the suffering heart of God," caused by man and woman's rejection of God through disobedience, set him apart from other world spiritual leaders and caused faith leaders from Christianity and other faith traditions as well as his followers to see and embrace him as a messianic figure called by God and anointed by Jesus to restore humanity back to God's kingship. Not a "self-proclaimed" "Messiah,” but rather as a man "anointed" by Jesus, confirmed and widely acclaimed as the "messiah" or "anointed one" by some of this nation's and the world's most prominent religious leaders.
In some instances he was maligned, misunderstood, misjudged and criticized, even having his divinely appointed mission misinterpreted, yet Father Moon never allowed the naysayers to deter him from advancing God's Providence through Spiritual Principles based upon the Word of God as revealed to him and recorded in his magnum opus, "The Original Substance of the Divine Principle." He lived for God and God's People and not for himself.
Our love and condolences, heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathy go out to his beloved and devoted wife of 52 years, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Co-Founder of HSA-UWC and Co-Founder of the Women's Federation for World Peace, their many children and more than 45 grandchildren, church leaders and devoted followers. She will now stand strong to lead us on with her youngest son, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon - who Father Moon appointed in 2009 as the one chosen to represent him.
We are confident that the Unification Movement will flourish in the wake of the passing of its fearless and gifted spiritual leader. In the eyes of his detractors, his powerful and prophetic voice, radical ideas and brilliant ways of thinking no longer will be a threat to their myopic worldview or intimidate their narrow minded reasoning. Yet, history tells us that even though the visionary passes on, the vision still lives and presses on towards fulfillment. As the great American poet laureate, Carl Sandburg, articulated so succinctly, "A tree is best measured when it is down -- and so it is with people."
The world has yet to discover, realize and appreciate the genius, selflessness, humility and true love of a man of God and the driving force behind everything that he sought to achieve and accomplish in his earthy life: namely, to realize in concrete and visible ways "the hope of all ages – a unified world of peace.” That vision and hope live on in those who believe in and embrace him as the True Parent, True Father, True Teacher, servant and lover of all humankind.
May he rest in peace.
Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr.
Founder and Patriarch
African American Catholic Congregation
Co-President
American Clergy Leadership Conference

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES

by Michael Reiko Ito Shea on Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 2:40am ·
September 7, 2012

Ms. Jill Abramson
Executive Editor
New York Times
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018

Dear Ms. Abramson,

We are writing to you concerning the article entitled: “Rev. Sun Myung Moon, 92, Self-Proclaimed Messiah Who Built Religious Movement, Dies,” by Daniel J. Wakin, NY Times, September 3, 2012.

As religious leaders who have been associated with Rev. Moon for many years, we are deeply concerned about the factual errors in this article as well as what appears to be intentional bias and discrimination against Rev. Moon and all associated with his great ministry. We request a meeting with you as soon as possible concerning these matters.

First, you use the term “Moonie” which is discriminatory, bigoted and contrary to your own policy. Your managing editor, Mr. Gene Roberts, wrote to Peter Ross, then director of Public Relations for the Unification Church, on May 6, 1997: “Once again I must apologize to you for a disrespectful reference to your church. As Bill Schmidt conceded in his telephone conversation with you last month, the use of the term ‘Moonie’ was a violation of our policy.  We do not refer to religions by invidious slang terms.” The 2002 edition of The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage advised: “Unification Church is appropriate in all references to the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, which was founded by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Do not use the disparaging Moonie(s).” (p. 344). We ask that you correct the author and reinforce your existing policy. 

In addition, we want to underscore that using the word with qualifications as was done in your article by saying “derisively known as Moonies” is just as hurtful as if the hate language were used directly as a label. Certainly you don’t refer to African-Americans with the caveat of “derisively known as n…….ers ?

Second, there are glaring errors of fact. It’s hard for us to understand why Mr. Wakin did not call anyone affiliated with Rev. Moon or the public relations department of the church in New York. We understand that the Unification Church’s media relations representatives extensively communicated with your organization during previous events such as the Blessing of Marriage event at the Manhattan Center last March, and that when the public affairs director attempted to visit you personally, no one was available to speak with him. Why would the author write such a subjective piece without seeking comments from the officials of the church?  This appears to indicate an unfair and unbalanced attitude of the writer and, perhaps, your paper. As clergy, we would like to meet and discuss this with you, for we do not assume that this bias was intentional. 

Consider some of the factual errors. To start, the reporter wrote: “Church leaders plotted a strategy to defend the president. Church rallies in support of Nixon drew thousands to Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden and the Washington Mall.” It’s sad to see such an important newspaper as the Times writing in a manner that is out of step with the facts of history. Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, one month before the Madison Square Garden rally, which was held in September 1974 as an evangelical rally about Jesus and his return (no mention of President Nixon there). The well-documented events at God Bless America Festivals in Yankee Stadium and at the Washington Monument took place in June and September of 1976 respectively, and had the purpose of strengthening the faith communities of America and introducing them to America’s providential role in the world (again, nothing to do with President Nixon as your article states).

Another factual error is the statement that Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo renounced his marriage to Ms. Maria Song of Korea who was blessed with him in marriage by Father and Mother Moon. Archbishop Milingo, who was close to Pope John Paul II, did return to the Vatican in response to the Pope’s wishes after his marriage in hopes that the door would open for priests to be married. During that period the marriage appeared to be in question. However, the fact is that in 2006 he returned to his wife, Maria, and they now live as a happily married blessed family in Zambia. The Archbishop’s “Married Priests Now!” movement has a solid base and is spreading in Africa as well as in the United States.

Mr. Wakin wrote that Rev. Moon turned on America in the 1990’s. Rev. Moon has continually believed in and loved America and was always clear that America was a nation inspired by God.  In his many public addresses he admired the spirit, faith and sacrifice of the Pilgrims to freely worship God. He always praised Christian leaders as well as people of conscience, veterans, men and women who throughout American history were the very reason that God’s divine protection could carry America forward through troubled times.

Religious leaders often have risen to challenge America when she was not true to her founding principles. That’s why Rev. Moon recognized the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the greatest American of the 20th century because Dr. King wasn’t afraid to speak out about America missing the mark in respect and equality for all races, yet he did it out of love for America. In the same manner, it was out of love for America that Rev. Moon challenged this nation to live up to and realize its God-affirming principles and to continue to improve as a nation that respects and protects the freedom and equality of all races, faiths and cultures before God and the Constitution as a nation whose motto is:  “In God We Trust.”

He never “turned on America” and never ceased to remind his followers of the role that America played in saving his nation of South Korea and in saving his life and the life of many of his countrymen at the time of the North’s invasion of the South. He always expressed love and hope for America --  asking God to forgive its shortcomings and that this nation’s spirit would be guided by the light of God so that she could be an example to the world as to how all faiths, races and nationalities could be “One Nation Under God.”   In a speech given in 2007 he states, “Victory (in the two world wars and over communism) came because God had chosen and raised the United States of America as the second Israel, in accordance with His providential program, and had raised the American people through Christianity. God worked through America to bring His providence to its present stage of fruition.”


Father Moon prepared well for this time of transition in leadership. On March 17, 2007 in a speech entitled: “A Providential View of the Pacific Rim Era in Light of God's Will - The United States and the Future Direction of the United Nations and the World” delivered in Kona, Hawaii, he announced that we were entering the era in which women would take the central leadership of all world affairs and that the movement for world peace would be led by his beloved wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. From 2007, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon has led this movement under Father Moon’s encouragement and love.

Further, on January 15, 2009 in Seoul, Korea and again on January 31st (Seoul in the morning and New York in the evening), Rev. and Mrs. Moon presided over special ceremonies in which they anointed their youngest son, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, as the one to assume responsibility as the spiritual leader of the Unification Church, its movement and all of its organizations under the guidance of True Parents.  We are happy to report that the movement is secure, strong and continues to grow under this leadership. As clergy of the ACLC founded by Rev. Moon, he taught us how to melt the barriers between denominations and faiths with the love of Jesus as well as “living for the sake of others” more than oneself and “loving our enemies” as Jesus taught and even “loving and helping our enemies’ children.”  The clergy movement and the larger Holy Spirit Association couldn’t be more vibrant.  Father Moon prepared us well.

Our experience as faith leaders is conclusive. Rev. Moon is not a “self-proclaimed Messiah” as you say but anointed by Jesus through a personal encounter with him. In Hebrew, Messiah means the “the anointed one,” and in that context we affirm that Father Moon is the Messiah (anointed one), and, together with Mother Moon, the True Parent. We have confirmed and witnessed this “anointing” from God both in spirit and in truth. Now the grace that Jesus brings to the individual who believes is expanded to the couple through the blessing of marriages. Divorce is on the decline where Father Moon’s teaching is practiced.

Many of us traveled with Rev. Moon extensively in 2001 throughout the 50 states, and having worked closely with him during the last 11 years,  thousands of Christian clergy of all denominations in America have received confirmation through their study of his Biblically sound and powerful teachings.  We have received affirmation concerning his historic role through the “still, small voice” of God. We believe that time will reveal to humanity God’s confirmation of Rev. Moon and the True Parents. As for now, we have confirmed in our own hearts and ministries that he is “anointed, appointed and approved” by God.  We are confident that “greater works” will be realized by those who practice his teaching on “True Love” which will eventually expand into the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES:

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