Stu Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Ah. Stories like this make me miss home down there in DC. I remember as a kid when it was rumored (never found out if it was true) that Rev. Moon owned Entenmann's bakery products. This was right around the Jim Jones/Kool Aid ordeal. Made me look at the Raspberry Twist in a whole new way. [line] Link The Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception Lawmakers Say They Were Misled By Charles Babington and Alan Cooperman Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, June 23, 2004; Page A01 More than a dozen lawmakers attended a congressional reception this year honoring the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in which Moon declared himself the Messiah and said his teachings have helped Hitler and Stalin be "reborn as new persons." At the March 23 ceremony in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) wore white gloves and carried a pillow holding an ornate crown that was placed on Moon's head. The Korean-born businessman and religious leader then delivered a long speech saying he was "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." Details of the ceremony -- first reported by Salon.com writer John Gorenfeld -- have prompted several lawmakers to say they were misled or duped by organizers. Their complaints prompted a Moon-affiliated Web site to remove a video of the "Crown of Peace" ceremony two days ago, but other Web sites have preserved details and photos. Moon, 85, has been controversial for years. Renowned for officiating at mass weddings, he received an 18-month prison sentence in 1982 for tax fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice. In a 1997 sermon, he likened homosexuals to "dirty dung-eating dogs." Among the more than 300 people who attended all or part of the March ceremony was Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), who now says he simply was honoring a constituent receiving a peace award and did not know Moon would be there. "We fell victim to it; we were duped," Dayton spokeswoman Chris Lisi said yesterday. Other lawmakers who attended or were listed as hosts felt the same, she said. "Everyone I talked to was furious," she said. With Minnesotans demanding to know whether Dayton is a follower of Moon, Lisi said, the senator persuaded the St. Paul Pioneer Press to write an article allowing him to reply. The event's organizers flew in nearly 100 honorees from all 50 states to receive state and national peace awards. The only "international crown of peace awards" went to Moon and his wife. Some Republicans who attended the event, including Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (Md.), said they did so mainly to salute the Washington Times, a conservative-leaning newspaper owned by Moon's organization. "I had no idea what would happen" regarding Moon's coronation and speech, Bartlett said yesterday. But a key organizer -- Archbishop George A. Stallings Jr., pastor of the Imani Temple, an independent African American Catholic congregation in Northeast Washington -- said Moon's prominent role should have surprised no one. He said a March 8 invitation faxed to all lawmakers stated that the "primary program sponsor" would be the "Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), founded by Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, who will also be recognized that evening for their lifelong work to promote interfaith cooperation and reconciliation." The invitation was signed by Davis and the Rev. Michael Jenkins, as co-chairmen of the IIFWP (USA). The event's co-sponsors 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, according to the invitation. Stallings, a former Roman Catholic priest who was married in Moon's church, said Moon's association with those organizations is well known. "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," he said. Use of the Dirksen building requires a senator's approval. Dayton said he gave no such permission, and Stallings said the question of who did so is "shrouded in mystery." Moon has claimed to have spoken in "the spirit world" with all deceased U.S. presidents, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed and others. At the March 23 event, he said: "The founders of five great religions and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even Communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin . . . and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons." Several Web sites quoted Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) as praising Moon at the event for "always standing up for what is right." In an interview yesterday, Cummings said, "I don't recall saying that. That may have been confused with what I was saying" about Bishop Joseph Showell, a constituent being honored. The Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a Democrat who was the District's congressional delegate for 10 years, was the event's master of ceremonies and recipient of a "National Crown of Peace" award. Also speaking at the event was Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.). Davis said in an interview that he is a lifelong Methodist who does not agree with many of Moon's religious teachings. But he praised Moon's efforts to promote world peace. Davis said that some Moon associates have donated money to his congressional campaigns, but that that has nothing to do with his support for Moon's organization. The prominent role played by Davis, Fauntroy and Stallings, among others, reflects Moon's efforts to reach out to the black community. Jenkins said many African American clergy members "have become strong allies" of Moon because they sympathize with the "mistreatment and labeling" he has faced. © 2004 The Washington Post Company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins24 Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I was just about to post this. wtf....the Messiah?? :laugh: Use of the Dirksen building requires a senator's approval. Dayton said he gave no such permission, and Stallings said the question of who did so is "shrouded in mystery." remliK? Was this your work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenmdixon Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by Stu Ah. Stories like this make me miss home down there in DC. I remember as a kid when it was rumored (never found out if it was true) that Rev. Moon owned Entenmann's bakery products. This was right around the Jim Jones/Kool Aid ordeal. Made me look at the Raspberry Twist in a whole new way. Interesting you said that about Entenmanns, Stu. Incidentially, they didn't own it, but it was a real image problem for the company. I remember it well - I grew up a mile away from their plant in Brentwood, NY - I used to stand on the bus stop smelling crumb cake in the mornings...yum yum! I also remember writing a 'current events' report about this.. http://www.theness.com/articles/whenwhisperscripplecompanies-nejs0304.html 1) The Moonies and the Munchies. The False Rumor: The Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church owns the Entenmann’s baked goods company. How far did the rumor spread? It apparently started in the late 1970s in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, following the purchase of the company by Warner-Lambert. Although the rumor spread as far as Chicago, the serious damage was in the New England area, where fear of the church’s tactics was strong. How did the company fight back? It didn’t at first. The company “laughed off” the ridiculous claim for a few years. But by 1981, sales were markedly dropping, sales representatives and delivery personnel were being harassed, and at least one delivery man was physically attacked by an angry Connecticut opponent of the church. Entenmann’s reacted by printing the Warner-Lambert logo on its boxes, sending letters to more than 1,500 New England religious groups, and holding a press conference with chairman Robert Entenmann. Was there a happy ending? Entenmann’s is still in business, unlike the rumor that dogged it. Warner-Lambert sold the company to General Foods in 1982; Bestfoods Corporation has owned Entenmann’s since 1995. The Unification Church is still in business, and in businesses, but remains unaffiliated with Entenmann’s. Originally posted by Stu The event's co-sponsors 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, according to the invitation. Stallings, a former Roman Catholic priest who was married in Moon's church, said Moon's association with those organizations is well known. "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," he said. Use of the Dirksen building requires a senator's approval. Dayton said he gave no such permission, and Stallings said the question of who did so is "shrouded in mystery." Moon has claimed to have spoken in "the spirit world" with all deceased U.S. presidents, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed and others. At the March 23 event, he said: "The founders of five great religions and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even Communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin . . . and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons." I gotta agree with Stallings here - I mean, geez, it's not like the Washington Times even tries to hide the affiliation... The Reverend's statement about Hitler and Stalin kinda...uh...baffles me. I wonder what he's trying to say here...what's the *real* message, that everyone can be reborn and try again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted June 23, 2004 Author Share Posted June 23, 2004 There is peace in the world again. I can enjoy Entenmann's without any guilt. The Times thing bothers me as well. While I would rather read a conservative DC paper, I can't get past that hurdle. The real question is, if Lenin and Hitler did come back after mending their ways, where are they now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SkinsHokie Fan Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 This is one of the wierdest things I have ever read. Mooney being CROWNED in a federal building? WTF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins24 Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Originally posted by Stu The real question is, if Lenin and Hitler did come back after mending their ways, where are they now? I heard they do magic now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZkinsFan Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 loony tunes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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