Sun Myung Moon Coronation
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On 23 March 2004, at a congressional Ambassadors for Peace reception where more than 12 United States lawmakers were in attendance, Rev. Sun Myung Moon was crowned in what both church members and media commentators have called a 'coronation ceremony.'
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."[1]
Moon announced that he would save everyone on Earth as he had saved the souls of even such murderous dictators as Hitler and Stalin, who he claimed had received "the Blessing" through him. Moon said the reformed Hitler and Stalin were among those who vouched for him from the spirit world.
The event, which also honored in lesser ways several dozen others, was ignored by the media at the time except for Moon's Washington Times; however, freelance journalist and blogger John Gorenfeld spent the next three months reconstructing the details of the event. The Washington Post and other newspapers later did report on the event. The New York Times editorial page compared the event to Roman emperor Caligula's alleged attempt to name his horse proconsul of Rome.
The awards ceremony was the grand finale of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification's coast-to-coast "take down the cross" tour, which led around 300 Christian ministers to remove crosses from their churches, the idea being that the cross has been an obstacle to uniting religions.
The invitation for the event lists representatives Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Chris Cannon of Utah, and Harold Ford of Tennessee as "Congressional Co-Chairs." Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, representatives Tom Davis of Virginia and Phil Crane of Illinois, and Republican consultant Charlie Black (whose PR firm represents Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress) were among a list of members of the 'Host Committee'.[2]
Most of those named as in attendance later denied it, and/or claimed to have had no idea what was going to occur at the event, stating that they didn't expect a coronation but thought the awards dinner was only to honor activists from their home states as 'Ambassadors for Peace'.
Davis, who actually placed the crown on Moon's head said "I'm not involved in any cult activities."
Weldon's office initially vehemently denied that he had attended, but retracted the claim after photos of him speaking were published. Weldon's spokesman Michael Conallen said he "was not there for the crowning" and "had no idea that the Reverend Moon was going to be at this event ... If we had known that Reverend Moon was going to attend the event, be crowned and make an unbelievably interesting speech, the congressman likely would not have attended."[3] Weldon's press secretary Angela Sowa stated, "Apparently he was there, but we really had nothing to do with it. I don't think it's quite accurate that the Washington Times said that we hosted the event. We may have been a Congressional co-host, but we have nothing to do with the agenda, the organization, the scheduling, and our role would be limited explicitly to the attendance of the Congressman."
Bishop said he did not attend, adding "My Messiah is Jesus Christ," but accepted an award in absentia. Bishop had attended a previous event presided over by Moon's son, on February 4, 2004, at the Ronald Reagan Building.
Ford spokesman Mark Sherman denied any association with Moon, saying, "If we were contacted, it's not clear that they represented themselves as being with Reverend Moon's church."
Crane spokeswoman Tami Stough said he "was absolutely not there" that evening.
Spokeswoman Lisa Wright said that Bartlett was 'notified that he was a recipient by the Washington Times Foundation' (of an Ambassador of Peace Medal which was presented at the ceremony), but that Bartlett "does not recall" being present during Moon's speech. She added, "Congressman Bartlett will decline to attend future and similar events to receive awards from the Washington Times Foundation. ... There was no representation of personal involvement by the Reverend Moon in connection with the event."
Minnesota senator Mark Dayton said he merely "stopped by to greet" Minnesota Reverend Rosilyn M. Carroll who was to receive an honor; "I did not see anyone identified as a Rev. Moon during the brief time I attended the reception to visit with Rev. Dr. Carroll, nor did I see any award given to a Reverend Moon." He denied reserving the room or accepting an award.
Maryland representative Elijah Cummings's spokeswoman Devika Koppikar said the "only reason [Cummings] went was at the request of his constituent" Bishop Joseph Showell, who was receiving an honor; she added that Cummings did not support Moon's claim to be the Messiah.
For more information, including video footage of the event, see Where in Washington, D.C. is Reverend Moon?
[edit] References
- ^ Babington, Charles, Alan Cooperman (June 23 2004). "The Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception - Lawmakers Say They Were Misled". Washington Post: A01.
- ^ Host Committee (JPG). Retrieved on 2006-04-29.
- ^ John Gorenfeld, "Moon Over Washington: Why are some of the capital’s most influential power players hanging out with a bizarre Korean billionaire who claims to be the Messiah?", The Gadflyer, June 9, 2004
