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At the same time that Moon Organization spokesmen define what constitutes
religious activity broadly, they seek to define what constitutes political activity
narrowly. As described by Dan Fefferman before the Subcommittee, there are
but two types of
activities which could properly be labeled political: to attempt
to influence pending legislation, and to support a candidate for public office, [In
fact, these activities are specifically excluded by the corporate charter of the UC.]
Some observers, however, see goals in the Moon Organization's activities
which are clearly political, including those carried on by the Unification Church.
Allen Tate Wood, testified that in his view the UC was not a church at all:
"It is my contention that it is certainly not a church. It is certainly a political
organization which clearly has partisan objectives." (369)
Another ex-member said that her experience in the church led her to believe
that Moon intended to make UC members into "a little political army." (370) The
opinion rendered by the New York Tax Commission in denying tax-exemption for
certain UC properties stated:
"although the applicant association does in certain aspects bespeak of a religious
association, it is in our opinion so threaded with political motives and activities
that it requires us to deny its application." (371)
It is also interesting to note that Moon himself saw danger in linking politics to
his spiritual movement. In relation to the anti-Communist ideology, Moon said:
"One thing that makes it difficult for us to advance full-stream. [sic] is that we
cannot quite proclaim our movement as a church on the foundation of the V.O.C.
[Victory Over Communism] ideology * * * We must, at any cost, let the people
know that Unified Thought, our philosophy, is based on our theological doctrine.
Otherwise, we cannot connect the V.O.C. movement with our church movement."
(372)
In 1974, while preparing his followers for a demonstration at the U.N. against
withdrawal of troops from South Korea Moon said:
"You must remember that you should not be saying anything in political terms.
You must say, "We
are not concerned about political things. We are not doing
this for political reasons, but out of humanitarian motivation." (373)
Similarly, UC members undertaking activities on behalf of President Nixon
were to achieve a "political effect caused by a religious concern,"(374) while
avoiding being pinned down as to the real object of their "Project Watergate"
campaign. The members were cautioned:
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