Capitol Hill Reception Honors Sun Myung Moon; Lawmakers Claim They Were Misled
by Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
June 24, 2004
(AgapePress) - In Washington, some members of Congress who attended a reception to honor the head of the "Moonies" cult say they were duped by the organizers. But one of those organizers is not buying that excuse.The Washington Post reports the March 23 reception, held at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, was attended by more than a dozen members of Congress. The report reveals that during the ceremony to honor the 85-year-old Sun Myung Moon, Democratic Congressman Danny Davis of Illinois wore white gloves and carried a pillow holding an ornate crown that was placed on Moon's head.
According to the newspaper report, Moon delivered a long speech in which he claimed to have been "sent to Earth ... to save the world's six billion people .... Emperors, kings, and presidents ... have declared to all Heaven and Earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord, and True Parent." He also stated that his teachings have helped Hitler and Stalin be "reborn as new persons."
Among those attending congressmen who claim they had no prior knowledge of the evening's real intent is Republican Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland. He says he thought the gathering was to salute the Washington Times newspaper, which is owned by Moon's organization.
But the Post says a key organizer of the evening -- Archbishop George A. Stallings, pastor of an independent African American Catholic congregation -- says the invitation was very clear as to what the ceremony was all about and who was going to be there. "You'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to not know that any event that is sponsored by the Washington Times...could involve the influence, or the potential presence, of the Reverend Moon," the Post quotes Stallings as saying.
Meanwhile, it is unclear who approved use of the Dirksen building for the event. Such use requires the approval of a senator. Democratic Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota, one of the attendees, told the Post he gave no such permission -- and Stallings says the answer to that question is "shrouded in mystery."
According to the Washington Post, co-sponsors of the event were the Washington Times Foundation, the United Press International Foundation, the American Family Coalition, the American Clergy Leadership Conference, and the Women's Federation for World Peace.
