This is the traslation of Korean Article on
Unification Church now pressures US congregants for donations
Shortfall in offerings in Japan, pressure to 'make up for it' in the U.S... Showing the UC's desperation
Since the Unification Church's (now the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification of Heavenly Parents) Hak Ja Han visited the United States in early October, complaints have erupted from some of its American members.
In the wake of the recent "Dissolution Order" in Japan and the blockage of donations from South Korea, the Unification Church has been putting pressure on its members in the U.S. to make up the shortfall.
As one member revealed, "There is pressure on Unification Church members in the United States to make up the shortfall in Japan. They are also trying to get inside information from politicians and using the Washington Times as a vehicle for their own public relations purposes."
The Unification Church's call for the U.S. to help it overcome the international financial crisis seems to be a response to the difficulties it is facing in South Korea due to the blockage of donations from Japan. While the Unification Church holds 40-day retreats for Korean and Japanese believers, it holds 120-day prayer meetings for American believers.
The construction of Cheonwon Palace in the HJ complex in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, was scheduled to be completed in May, but has not been completed to date. It has been pointed out that this is due to lack of funds. For this reason, during Hak Ja Han's visit to the United States in early October, she instructed to try to build a CWG (Cash Working Group).
There is testimony that she said "USA should not only be self sufficient, but should be able to fund world missions".
In response to this, some of the members said that they felt like, "If we can't give financially, we're told to give of our time, which sounds like a threat that we're slaves, that we have to do what our leaders tell us to do."
A former UC member said, "Unlike the first generation, the second generation is mostly in their mid-20s. They don't evangelize because the leaders keep asking them for money,"and advised, "Find the meaning of your existence outside of the Unification Church. Find something better that doesn't exploit you or make you feel guilty."
There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 members of the Unification Church in the Eastern Region, which includes New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Boston, the headquarters of the Unification Church in the United States. The following is a breakdown of tithing for members in this region.
As evidence of the Unification Church's financial difficulties, there are reports of the unfinished construction of the Cheonwon Palace, the sale of several Korean and international properties, staff reductions, and salary cuts for officials.
In the meantime, the Gapyeong Unification Church complex continues to hold monthly ancestor dismissal and blessing ceremonies, the Blessing of Unmarried Spritual(Dead) People for Sanctification, the Blessing of the Spiritual and Terrestrial Realm, the Narrowing of the Distance Between Body and Mind, the True Mother Speeches Hoon Dok Reading Method, and various training programs. There is also a 40-day retreat for Japanese believers. The church is constantly attracting new members.
If you visit the Gapyeong Unification Church complex, you will see more Japanese believers than Koreans. It seems that there should be a more active anti-Unification Church movement in Japan.
Period.
