Unification Movement
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The Unification Movement is comprised of organizations and individuals associated with the church, that are dedicated to creating world peace through ideal families centered on God in accordance with the doctrines of Reverend Sun Myung Moon and is spearheaded by the Unification Church itself (renamed the "Family Federation for World Peace").
For legal and tax purposes in several countries, various projects inspired or directed by Rev. Moon or members of his church are required to maintain existence as separate entities. In the United States, for example, a federal law restricts political speech by churches and pastors, so the Unification Church itself is not permitted to make some kinds of statements about the national or world political situation. Members of the church have created organizations such as CARP which operate under the less stringent requirements of a "non-profit, educational foundation".
Some members in the United States and other countries have also tried to establish businesses with the dual aims of serving their communities while hopefully making a profit to donate to church projects. Most of these attempts failed miserably, and the church in the US has relied heavily on donations from abroad, especially Japan. A notable exception to this record of financial failure is the seafood business set up by church members in Baton Rouge, whose success after the hurricane of 1979 reminds some of a scene from Forrest Gump. [1] (http://www.cesnur.org/testi/moon_01.htm)
Footnotes
- Bayou La Batre residents embrace church they once called a cult (http://www.cesnur.org/testi/moon_01.htm) - by Ben Raines ("Alabama Live," July 30, 2000)
External links
- Unofficial Unification Movement discussion group and mail list (http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/unification)