A Statement by Sanctuary Church on Recent Events in Moldova
Right 1 of the Constitution of the United States of Cheon Il Guk guarantees religious freedom to all persons.
We have received reports of an incident in the Republic of Moldova in which local police detained two leaders of the local chapter of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, including the chapter's national leader. Police also searched the homes and private vehicles of multiple FFWPU members and the office of International Relief and Friendship Foundation, where they removed computers, cash and other items.
Earlier this year, seven former FFWPU members who now support World Peace and Unification Sanctuary (Sanctuary Church) wrote letters to the police in which they reported their private concerns related to possible violations of local laws by FFWPU leaders and other related persons working in Moldova. At least one of the persons submitting these letters was subsequently interviewed by police in person and by email.
One of the letter writers has reported to the Sanctuary Church World Mission Headquarters that a series of events led up to the decision to involve the police. In March, a number of FFWPU members watched a sermon by Second King of Cheon Il Guk Hyung Jin Moon in which the King stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in building God's Kingdom. Later, some of these members approached the FFWPU chapter president with a request for an opportunity to convey the King's message to other members of the chapter.
Initially, the members were promised such an opportunity during or around the regularly scheduled Sunday worship service on March 29. On arriving at the venue for this service, they found that martial arts experts had been stationed at the door with instructions not to allow certain members to enter. Facing this threat of violence, the disallowed members withdrew after a short commotion.
The members made a second request for a similar meeting to be held during the following week. They said that if FFWPU leaders chose not to give them an opportunity to discuss financial transparency and other issues, they would feel compelled to go to the police with their concerns about possible illegal activities by FFWPU leaders and related persons.
Their request received no response. Instead, the local FFWPU reported one of the members to police for disorderly conduct at the time of the Sundayservice. The member paid a fine as a result.
During the same week, a member visited a construction site related to some of the concerns held by the members requesting the meeting. When the member attempted to speak with workers at the site, FFWPU reported her to police. She was also fined.
On Saturday, April 4, the FFWPU chapter held a general meeting of its members. During this meeting, four members were voted out of FFWPU Moldova. It was only after this vote that a group of members began holding their own Sunday services patterned after the services in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania.
During the next couple of months, the members of the excluded group struggled over how to proceed. Around June, after much prayer and discussion, they agreed that each person would make an individual decision on whether to submit a letter to police. Seven members decided to write such letters. The content of each letter was kept confidential, even from other members of the group of seven.
It is not clear what role these letters and the subsequent police interview(s) may have played in the recent police action. Judging from the intensity of the action, it seems reasonable to assume that police are acting on a great deal more information than what was provided by the seven letter writers.
Sanctuary Church is a free association of people who believe that True Father Sun Myung Moon is the Messiah and King of kings and that his son Hyung Jin Moon is his sole legitimate representative and inheritor and Second King of Cheon Il Guk. We believe that each person has the ability to act with his or her God-given freedom, with the caveat that the person must take responsibility for the consequences of such free actions.
Though we do not have all the facts regarding the situation in Moldova, partly because the police investigation is still on-going, we acknowledge the seven letter-writers for what must have been a difficult and courageous decision to act in accordance with their consciences.
Sanctuary Church believes in local sovereignty. We respect the right of the seven Moldovan members to make such a decision and leave it God to determine the righteousness of their actions. Most healthy organizations have processes through which members can bring possible wrongdoing to the attention of senior management without recrimination. If FFWPU had such a process, the seven letter writers likely would not have gone to the police.
At the same time, we are saddened by the reaction to this news by some members of FFWPU in the United States and elsewhere. We call on FFWPU to reach out to its members with a reminder that the rhetoric of violence will not contribute to a positive outcome of this situation.
The King, along with staff and members of Sanctuary Church, continue to pray for the safety and well-being of everyone in Moldova affected by this incident, particularly the two persons currently in police custody and their families.
We also remind all FFWPU leaders around the world that the King, in a sermon delivered on February 8 this year, dismissed them from their positions and ordered them to step down so that members could elect their own leaders.
Donate now to Relief Fund for Families of Imprisoned FFWPU Leaders
