Sun Myung Moon coronation

The Sun Myung Moon coronation was a ceremony held 23 March 2004 in a United States federal office building in Washington D. C.. At a reception where more than 12 United States lawmakers were in attendance; Sun Myung Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, was crowned "King of Peace." The event met with widespread media criticism.

On June 23, 2004 the Washington Post reported:

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." [cite journal| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61932-2004Jun22.html| title=The Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception - Lawmakers Say They Were Misled| first=Charles| last=Babington| coauthors=Alan Cooperman| journal=Washington Post| month=June 23| year=2004| pages=A01]

Unification Church theologian Chung Hwan Kwak described the significance as follows: "So in effect, the crowning means America is saying to Father, 'Please become my king,'" in a statement posted on a Unification Church website and reported by Church & State.

In March 2007, Moon said:

:"In Jerusalem, in 2003, on the foundation of the victory attained through such blood, sweat and tears, I had Jesus proclaimed as the king of kings before heaven and earth with the acknowledgement of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Following this, in 2004, I was acknowledged as the King of Peace both in a United States Senate Office Building and at the Korean National Assembly. Subsequently, in June 2006, we held the Coronation Ceremony of the True Parents as the King and Queen of Peace in Heaven and Earth."

Controversy

"Church & State" states::Moon critic John Gorenfeld broke the story in March on his website (www.gorenfeld.net/blog/) and later ran a lengthy article about the event on the website gadflyer.com. About two weeks later, Gorenfeld did a similar piece for the online magazine salon.com, which sparked national headlines. [ [http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3944/is_200407/ai_n9440393 Church & State, July/Aug 2004] ]

On June 27, 2004 the "New York Times" editorial board criticized the ceremony and the participation of congressional members. cite news
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E0D81638F934A15755C0A9629C8B63&scp=9&sq=moon+caligula&st=nyt |title=Lawmakers Scurry From the Light |work=New York Times
date=2004-06-27]

The Associated Press reported that "Many of the congressional members in attendance have said they felt misled into making an appearance that later was used to promote Moon's Unification Church." [ [http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=82601&format=html Bartlett defends role in Moon coronation] 07/03/2004, MD PA WV Herald-Mail.] Some stated 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. [John Gorenfeld, [http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131 "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]

ee also

* Coronation
* List of messiah claimants

References