Editing Unification Church (section)

== Criticism and controversies ==
=== Criticisms of Moon ===

Moon's claim to be the [[Messiah]] and the [[Second Coming of Jesus]] has been rejected by both Jewish and Christian scholars.<ref name="Dialogue with the Moonies">Rodney Sawatsky, 1978, [http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1978/v35-1-criticscorner3.htm Dialogue with the Moonies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211184615/http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1978/v35-1-criticscorner3.htm |date=December 11, 2008 }} ''Theology Today.''</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100323061342/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913685-2,00.html Mad About Moon], ''[[Time Magazine]]'', November 10, 1975</ref> Protestant commentators have criticized Moon's teachings as being contrary to the Protestant doctrine of ''[[sola fide]]'' ({{literal translation|faith alone}}).<ref name="Daske, D 2005, p142">Daske, D. and Ashcraft, W. 2005, ''New Religious Movements'', New York: New York University Press, {{ISBN|0-8147-0702-5}} p142</ref><ref name="Yamamoto, J 1995, p40">Yamamoto, J. 1995, ''Unification Church'', Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press, {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}} p40</ref> In their influential book ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults]]'' (first published in 1965), [[Walter Ralston Martin]] and [[Ravi K. Zacharias]] disagreed with the ''Divine Principle'' on the issues of the [[divinity of Jesus]], the [[virgin birth of Jesus]], Moon's belief that [[Jesus bloodline|Jesus should have married]], the necessity of the [[crucifixion of Jesus]], a literal [[resurrection of Jesus]], as well as a literal second coming of Jesus.<ref name="Walter Ralston Martin 2003, pages 368-370">Walter Ralston Martin, Ravi K. Zacharias, ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', Bethany House, 2003, {{ISBN|0764228218}} pages 368–370</ref>

Commentators have criticized the ''Divine Principle'' for saying that the [[First World War]], the [[Second World War]], the [[Holocaust]], and the [[Cold War]] served as indemnity conditions to prepare the world for the establishment of the [[Kingdom of God]].<ref>Helm, S. [https://www.religion-online.org/article/divine-principle-and-the-second-advent/ Divine Principle and the Second Advent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921143920/http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1163 |date=September 21, 2008 }} ''[[Christian Century]]'' May 11, 1977.</ref> In 1998, journalist [[Peter Maass]], writing for ''[[The New Yorker]]'', reported that some Unification members complained about ''Blessing'' being given to non-members who had not gone through the same course that members had.<ref>[http://www.petermaass.com/core.cfm?p=1&mag=48&magtype=1 Moon at Twilight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010411094005/http://www.petermaass.com/core.cfm?p=1&mag=48&magtype=1 |date=April 11, 2001 }}, [[Peter Maass]], ''[[The New Yorker]]'' "The campaign has dismayed some church members, because a blessing from Moon used to be a hard-won privilege, typically attained only after a person had joined the church, worked in it for several years, and agreed to marry someone—usually a stranger—selected by Moon. But grumblings about the blessing campaign are just the beginning of Moon's current troubles."</ref> In 2000, Moon was criticized, including by some members of his church, for his support of [[Nation of Islam]] leader [[Louis Farrakhan]]'s [[Million Family March]].<ref name="clarkson" />

Moon was criticized for his relationship with Jewish scholar [[Richard L. Rubenstein]], an advocate of the "[[death of God theology]]" of the 1960s.<ref>John Warwick Montgomery and Thomas J. J. Altizer, ''The Altizer-Montgomery Dialogue: A Chapter in the God is Dead Controversy'' (InterVarsity Press, Chicago, 1967), p.7</ref> Rubenstein was a defender of the Unification Church and served on its advisory council,<ref name="AJA">{{cite web|url=http://www.americanjewisharchives.org/aja/FindingAids/RichardRubenstein.htm|title=Richard L. Rubenstein Papers|website=American Jewish Archives|access-date=January 28, 2018|archive-date=July 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729145441/http://americanjewisharchives.org/aja/FindingAids/RichardRubenstein.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as on the board of directors of the church-owned ''[[Washington Times]]'' newspaper.<ref name="ReferenceD"/> In the 1990s, he served as president of the [[University of Bridgeport]], which was then affiliated with the church.<ref>[https://archive.today/20121208134740/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60616FA3D550C7B8CDDA00894DD494D81 U. of Bridgeport Honors Rev. Moon, Fiscal Savior], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 8, 1995</ref>

In 1998, the Egyptian newspaper ''[[Al-Ahram]]'' criticized Moon's possible relationship with Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and wrote that the ''Washington Times'' editorial policy was "rabidly anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and pro-Israel."<ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1998/403/op1.htm The same old game] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215193404/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1998/403/op1.htm |date=February 15, 2009 }}, ''[[Al-Ahram]]'', November 12–18, 1998, "The Washington Times is a mouthpiece for the ultra conservative right, unquestioning supporters of Israel's [[Likud]] government. The newspaper is owned by Sun Myung Moon, originally a native of North Korea and head of the Unification Church, whose ultra-right leanings make him a ready ally for Netanyahu. Whether or not Netanyahu is personally acquainted with Moon is unclear, though there is no doubt that he has established close friendships with several staff members on ''The Washington Times'', whose editorial policy is rabidly anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and pro-Israel."</ref><ref name="wrmea.com" /> Moon has been accused of advocating a worldwide "[[automatic theocracy]]",<ref name="Unification Church 1977, page 122" /> albeit based on a poorly translated speech.<ref>[[Dan Fefferman]] said:
He never used words even resembling "automatic theocracy" but rather described "heaven on earth" as naturally emerging from a succession of democratically elected honest politicians. [https://www.tparents.org/library/unification/talks/feffermn/Fefferman-030730.htm]</ref> He has also been criticized for advising his followers to become "[[crazy for God]]."<ref name="Unification.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/WofGW/wogw1-03.htm |title=''The Way of God's Will'' Chapter 3. Leaders |publisher=Unification.org |access-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716085154/http://www.unification.org/ucbooks/WofGW/wogw1-03.htm |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Crazy for God">{{cite web |url=http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct1979/v36-3-booknotes20.htm |title=Crazy for God |publisher=Theologytoday.ptsem.edu |access-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216091315/http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct1979/v36-3-booknotes20.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Theological disputes with Christianity===
====Fall of Man and view of Jesus====

Central to Unification teachings is the concept that the [[Fall of Man]] was caused by the literal [[serpent seed|mating of Eve and Satan]] in the [[Garden of Eden]], which contaminated the whole human race with sin. According to the religion, humanity can only be restored to [[God]] through a messiah who comes as a new [[Adam]]: a new head of the human race, replacing the sinful parents and siring new children free from Satanic influence. In the Unification Church, Jesus is this messiah, just as he is a messianic figure in more mainstream Christianity.<ref name="Sontag102">{{cite book |last=Sontag |first=Frederick |url=https://archive.org/details/sunmyungmoonunif00sont/page/102/mode/2up |pages=102–105 |title=Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church |date=1977 |publisher=Abingdon Press |others=Abingdon Press |isbn=0-687-40622-6 |location=Nashville, Tenn. |oclc=3071834}}</ref> However, since Jesus was prematurely killed before he could start a new sinless family, Moon claims he himself was called upon by God to fulfill Jesus's unresolved mission.<ref name="maass" /> In 1980, Unification theologian [[Young Oon Kim]] wrote:{{blockquote|Unification theology teaches that Jesus came to establish the [[Kingship and kingdom of God|kingdom of Heaven on Earth]]. As [[St. Paul]] wrote, Jesus was to be the new Adam restoring the lost garden of Eden. For this purpose he chose twelve apostles, symbolizing the original twelve tribes of Israel, and sent out seventy disciples, symbolizing all the nations of the world. Like John the Baptist, Jesus proclaimed that the long-awaited kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matt. 4:17). Jesus was appointed God's earthly representative in order to subjugate Satan, cleanse men of original sin, and free them from the power of evil. Christ's mission involved liberation from sin and raising mankind to the perfection stage. His purpose was to bring about the kingdom of heaven in our world with the help of men filled with divine truth and love. Jesus' goal was to restore the Garden of Eden, a place of joy and beauty in which true families of perfected parents would dwell with God in a full relationship of reciprocal love.<ref>Kim, Young Oon, 1980, [http://www.religious.org/ucbooks/UTheol/toc.htm Unification Theology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727210956/http://www.religious.org/ucbooks/UTheol/toc.htm |date=27 July 2018 }}, Barrytown, NY: [[Unification Theological Seminary]], {{LCCN|8052872}}</ref>}}

The Unification view of Jesus has been criticized by mainstream Christian authors and theologians. In their influential book ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults]]'' (first published in 1965), Walter Ralston Martin and Ravi K. Zacharias disagreed with the ''Divine Principle'' on the issues of the [[divinity of Jesus]], the [[virgin birth of Jesus]], the Unification Church's belief that Jesus should have married, a literal [[resurrection of Jesus]], as well as a literal [[Second Coming]]. They add: "Moon makes all men equal in 'divinity' to Jesus, thereby striking a blow at the uniqueness of Christ."<ref>Walter Ralston Martin, Ravi K. Zacharias, ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', Bethany House, 2003, {{ISBN|0764228218}} pp. 368–370.</ref> The ''Divine Principle'' states on this point:{{blockquote|There is no greater value than that of a person who has realized the ideal of creation. This is the value of Jesus, who surely attained the highest imaginable value. The conventional Christian belief in Jesus' divinity is well founded because, as a perfect human being, Jesus is totally one with God. To assert that Jesus is none other than a man who has completed the purpose of creation does not degrade the value of Jesus in the least.<ref>[http://www.unification.net/dp96/dp96-1-7.html#Chap7 Divine Principle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806212943/http://www.unification.net/dp96/dp96-1-7.html#Chap7 |date=6 August 2018 }}, Chapter 7, Section 2.2</ref>}}

Unificationist theologian Young Oon Kim wrote, and some members of the Unification movement believe, that [[Zechariah (New Testament figure)|Zechariah]] was the father of Jesus, based on the work of [[Leslie Weatherhead]], an English Christian theologian in the [[Liberal Christianity|liberal Protestant]] tradition.<ref name="USArmy">{{cite book|author=United States Department of the Army|author-link=United States Department of the Army|title=Religious Requirements and Practices: A Handbook for Chaplains|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gDQfnMUI6gC|year=2001|publisher=The Minerva Group, Inc.|isbn=978-0-89875-607-4|pages=1–42}}</ref><ref name="Sontag102" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Weatherhead, L.D.|title=The Christian Agnostic|pages=59–63|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=England|year=1965|url=http://DLMcN.com/weatherhead.html|access-date=February 8, 2021|archive-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406073356/http://www.dlmcn.com/weatherhead.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement'' by Ruth A. Tucker 1989 {{ISBN|0-310-25937-1}} pp. 250–251</ref>

==== Indemnity ====
[[Indemnity]], in the context of Unification theology, is a part of the process by which human beings and the world are restored to God's ideal.<ref>Daske, D. and Ashcraft, W. 2005, ''New Religious Movements'', New York: New York University Press, {{ISBN|0-8147-0702-5}} "To restart the process toward perfection, God has sent messiahs to earth who could restore the true state of humanity's relationship with God. Before that can happen, however, humans must perform good deeds that cancel the bad effects of sin. Unificationists call this "indemnity". Showing love and devotion to one's fellow humans, especially within families, helps pay this indemnity." p. 142.</ref><ref>Yamamoto, J. 1995, ''Unification Church'', Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press, {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}} "The doctrine of indemnity. Indemnity is that which people do to restore themselves to God's kingdom. [[Young Oon Kim]] describes it this way: 'We atone for our sins through specific acts of penance.' Kwang-Yol Yoo, a Unification teacher, even goes so far as to say that by following the ''Divine Principle'', "man's perfection must be accomplished by his own effort without God's help." God does most of the work, but people must still do their part in order to achieve God's plan of salvation: 'Five percent is only to say that man's responsibility is extremely small compared to God's.' "p35 "The doctrine of indemnity is not biblical. 'In simple language.' states Ruth Tucker, 'indemnity is salvation by works.' Bob Larson makes a distinction between Moon's doctrine and biblical theology, saying, 'Moon's doctrine of sinless perfection by "indemnity [forgiveness of sin by works on Moon's behalf], which can apply even to deceased ancestors, is a denial of the salvation by grace offering through Jesus Christ.' 'Farewell,' said John Calvin. 'to the dream of those who think up a righteousness flowing together out of faith and works.'" p40</ref><ref>[http://www.unification.net/misc/powerdp.html The Power of the Principle: When It Came; Where It Went] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228224840/http://www.unification.net/misc/powerdp.html |date=28 February 2021 }} Richard Quebedeaux, "Rev. Moon calls such a mode of living, such a lifestyle, "restoration through indemnity." With indemnity viewed as a persistent pattern of behavior, not as a mere doctrine to be affirmed or a rational list of rules, God's ideal for human relationships is "restored" through restitution. Restitution-in the sense of a "natural law"-assuages resentment, because it is the means by which the powerful and enfranchised give the people who feel downtrodden and powerless what they believe is rightly theirs. Indemnity means that 'I'm here for you.'"</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://geocities.com/unificationism/edp-restoration.html|title=Divine Principle – Restoration|date=29 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829115416/http://geocities.com/unificationism/edp-restoration.html |archive-date=29 August 2009 }}</ref> The concept of indemnity is explained at the start of the second half of the ''Divine Principle'', "Introduction to Restoration":

{{blockquote|What, then, is the meaning of restoration through indemnity? When someone has lost his original position or state, he must make some condition to be restored to it. The making of such conditions of restitution is called indemnity... God's work to restore people to their true, unfallen state by having them fulfill indemnity conditions is called the providence of restoration through indemnity.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Exposition of the Divine Principle''</ref>{{efn|{{korean|hangul=그 러면 '탕감복귀'란 무엇을 말하는 것인가? 무엇이든지 그 본연의 위치와 상태 등을 잃어버리게 되었을 때, 그것들을 본래의 위치와 상태에로 복귀하려면 반드시 거기에 필요한 어떠한 조건을 세워야 한다. 이러한 조건을 세우는 것을 탕감 (tanggam) 이라고 하는 것이다....그리고 이처럼 탕감조건을 세워서 창조본연의 인간으로 복귀해 나아가는 섭리를 탕감복귀섭리라고 말한다|labels=no}}<ref>''[http://www.tongil.org/ucbooks/Divine_Principle-Korean/D_P_Korean-Pt2.html#DPA Exposition of the Divine Principle Korea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331091840/http://www.tongil.org/ucbooks/Divine_Principle-Korean/D_P_Korean-Pt2.html#DPA |date=March 31, 2022 }}''</ref>}}}}

The ''Divine Principle'' goes on to explain three types of indemnity conditions. Equal conditions of indemnity pay back the full value of what was lost. The [[Hebrew Bible]] verse "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" ([[Exodus 21]]:23–24) is quoted as an example of an equal indemnity condition.<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|21:23–24}}</ref> Lesser conditions of indemnity provide a benefit greater than the price that is paid. [[Faith]], [[baptism]], and the [[eucharist]] are mentioned as examples of lesser indemnity conditions. Greater conditions of indemnity come about when a person fails in a lesser condition. In that case, a greater price must be paid to make up for the earlier failure. [[Abraham]]'s attempted sacrifice of his son [[Isaac]] ([[Genesis 22]]:1–18) and the [[Israelites]]' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness under [[Moses]] ([[Numbers 14]]:34) are mentioned as examples of greater indemnity conditions.<ref>{{bibleverse|Gen|22:1–18|HE}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|14:34|HE}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA" />

The ''Divine Principle'' then explains that an indemnity condition must reverse the course by which the mistake or loss came about. Indemnity, at its core, is required of humans because God is pure, and purity cannot relate directly with impurity. Indemnification is the vehicle that allows a "just and righteous" God to work through mankind. [[Jesus]]' statement that God had forsaken him (Matt.27:46) and [[Christianity]]'s history of [[martyr]]dom are mentioned as examples of this.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The ''Divine Principle'' then states that human beings, not God or the [[angel]]s, are the ones responsible for making indemnity conditions.<ref>Yamamoto, J. I., 1995, Unification Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Daske and Ashcraft">Daske and Ashcraft{{Nonspecific|date=September 2022}}</ref> In 2005, scholars Daske and Ashcraft explained the concept of indemnity:{{blockquote|To restart the process toward perfection, God has sent messiahs to Earth who could restore the true state of humanity's relationship with God. Before that can happen, however, humans must perform good deeds that cancel the bad effects of sin. Unificationists call this 'indemnity'. Showing love and devotion to one's fellow humans, especially within families, helps pay this indemnity.<ref>Daske, D. and Ashcraft, W. 2005, New Religious Movements, New York: New York University Press, {{ISBN|0814707025}} p142.</ref>}}

Other [[Protestant Christian]] commentators have criticized the concept of indemnity as being contrary to the doctrine of ''[[sola fide]]''. Christian historian Ruth Tucker said: "In simple language, indemnity is salvation by works."<ref name="Yamamoto">Yamamoto, J. I., 1995, ''Unification Church'', Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}} ([http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310703816_samptxt.pdf Excerpt:] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210024144/http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310703816_samptxt.pdf |date=February 10, 2012 }})<br />"1. The Unification Theological Seminary
:a. The Unification Church has a seminary in Barrytown, New York called The Unification Theological Seminary.
:b. It is used as a theological training center, where members are prepared to be leaders and theologians in the UC.
:c. Moon's seminary, however, has not only attracted a respectable faculty (many of whom are not members of the UC), but it also has graduated many students (who are members of the UC) who have been accepted into doctoral programs at institutions such as Harvard and Yale."</ref><ref name="Daske and Ashcraft" /> Rev. Keiko Kawasaki wrote: "The indemnity condition (of the Unification Church) is an oriental way of thinking, meaning a condition for atonement for sins (unlike Christianity)."<ref>Rev.Keiko Kawasaki, "Concerned about the Principle Movement"</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.koreaworldtimes.com/topics/news/11823/ |title="Unification Church" doctrine and money collection that forces Japanese to "indemnity" for "colonial rule"Korean World Times 2022/7/31 |date=31 July 2022 |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812132747/https://www.koreaworldtimes.com/topics/news/11823/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''"The Neverending Story – indemnity! indemnity! indemnity !('Anti-Japan Tribalism 반일종족주의, 反日種族主義'edited by Lee Younghoon, p.188)"''</ref> Donald Tingle and Richard Fordyce, ministers with the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]] who debated two Unification Church theologians in 1977, wrote: "In short, indemnity is anything you want to make it, since you establish the conditions. The zeal and enthusiasm of the Unification Church members is not so much based on love for God as it is compulsion to indemnify one's own sins."<ref>Tingle, D. and Fordyce, R. 1979, The Phases and Faces of the Moon: A Critical Examination of the Unification Church and Its Principles, Hicksville, New York: Exposition Press p53-55</ref>

===Ideal family===

A doctrine of Rev. Moon's teachings and the Unification movement is that the messiah will part complete Jesus' work by marrying and raising the "ideal" and "sinless" family as an example for others to follow and so restore God's original plan for humanity.<ref name="EB-UC" />
However, according to journalist [[Robert F. Worth]], since the death of Sun Myung Moon, "his children have struggled to live up to their 'sinless' billing.

{{blockquote|"They have spent much of the past decade fighting in court over his assets and legacy, ... One son was accused by his wife of cocaine addiction and domestic abuse. (He denied both claims and has since died.) Another son leaped to his death from a balcony at a Nevada casino. A third son, [[Hyung Jin Moon|Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon]], founded a separate, gun-centered church in Pennsylvania known as Rod of Iron Ministries, where followers do target practice with AR-15s and bring guns to church to be blessed. Hyung Jin wears a golden crown made of rifle shells and delivers hate-filled sermons against the Democratic Party. He also expects to become the king of America. He reviles his mother—who runs the international church in South Korea—as the "whore of Babylon."<ref name="Worth-Moonies-Atlantic"/>}}

===Spending church funds in casinos===
In Moon and Han's teachings, [[Las Vegas]] was described as a "city of Satan," and they aimed to amass believers to transform that hell into heaven. However, in 2022, reports from [[Shukan Bunshun]] and [[TBS News]] revealed that according to transaction records compiled between 2008 and 2011 by [[MGM Resorts International]], Hak Ja Han, and 11 church executives lost approximately {{USD|6.52 million|long=no}} in Las Vegas casinos. According to a former domestic helper of Hak Ja Han, the religious president's favorite casino game was the [[slot machine]].<ref>{{Citation|author1=「週刊文春」編集部 |url=https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/58504|script-title=ja:〈機密文書入手〉韓鶴子総裁と統一教会幹部がラスベガスのカジノで64億円"豪遊" 9億円の損失を出していた|trans-title=|work=[[Shukan Bunshun]]|date=November 10, 2022|access-date=October 9, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013020653/https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/58504|url-status=live}}</ref>

A senior believer claims that the funds squandered in the casino were donations from Japanese believers. Internal church records specify that donations, totaling {{USD|9.51 million|long=no}} between 2009 and 2011, were intended for Las Vegas. A former Japanese chief of the church who participated in the church's Las Vegas tour testified that the church specifically instructed participants to carry {{USD|7,500|long=no}} in cash as a donation, which was below the upper limit for customs declaration. Upon arrival in the U.S., they would hand over their donations and be given a tour of tourist attractions, such as the [[Grand Canyon]], while only being able to meet Moon and Han once, unaware of their gambling activities in the casino.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/239150?display=1|script-title=ja:検証15弾 教団幹部がラスベガスで"カジノ遊興"疑惑 旧統一教会の内部資料を独自入手【報道特集】|trans-title=|work=[[TBS News]]|date=December 17, 2022|access-date=October 9, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013015338/https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/239150?display=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Investigation by the United States House of Representatives===
In 1977, the [[Subcommittee on International Organizations of the Committee on International Relations]] of the [[United States House of Representatives]], reported that the Unification Church was established by the director of the [[Korean Central Intelligence Agency]] (KCIA), [[Kim Chong Pil]].<ref name="Halloran">{{Cite news |last=Halloran |first=Richard |date=March 16, 1978 |title=Unification Church Called Seoul Tool |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/16/archives/unification-church-called-seoul-tool-house-panel-releases-documents.html |access-date=July 13, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714153237/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/16/archives/unification-church-called-seoul-tool-house-panel-releases-documents.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee also reported that the KCIA had used the movement to gain political influence with the United States, and some of its members had worked as volunteers in Congressional offices. Together they founded the Korean Cultural Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that acted as a [[public diplomacy]] campaign for South Korea.<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book |last=Diamond |first=Sara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AabywLOknbsC&dq=fraser+kcia&pg=PA59 |title=Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right |date=1989 |publisher=South End Press |isbn=978-0-89608-361-5 |language=en |access-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924184411/https://books.google.com/books?id=AabywLOknbsC&pg=PA59&dq=fraser+kcia |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee also investigated possible KCIA influence on the Unification Church's campaign in support of Nixon.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f7ITAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6935,979096&dq=fraser+korea Ex-aide of Moon Faces Citation for Contempt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301201259/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f7ITAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6935,979096&dq=fraser+korea |date=March 1, 2021 }}, [[Associated Press]], ''[[Eugene Register-Guard]]'', August 5, 1977</ref>

Unification Church official [[Dan Fefferman]] testified in August 1977 before the Fraser Committee.<ref name="reid">{{cite news | last =Reid | first =T.R. | title =House Subcommittee's Report Links Rev. Moon to the KCIA | newspaper =[[The Washington Post]] | page =A7 | date =August 5, 1977 | url =https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120059729.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+5%2C+1977&author=By+T.R.+ReidWashington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++%281974-Current+file%29&edition=&startpage=A7&desc=House+Subcommittee%27s+Report+Links+Rev.+Moon+to+the+KCIA | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130131175359/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120059729.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+5,+1977&author=By+T.R.+ReidWashington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=A7&desc=House+Subcommittee's+Report+Links+Rev.+Moon+to+the+KCIA | url-status =dead | archive-date =January 31, 2013 }}</ref> Testimony from Fefferman confirmed that he had social ties to officials within the South Korean embassy.<ref name="babcock">{{cite news | last =Babcock |first =Charles R. | title =Moon Sect Support of Nixon Detailed | newspaper =[[The Washington Post]] | page =A1 | date =November 10, 197 | url =https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/138203752.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Nov+10%2C+1977&author=By+Charles+R.+BabcockWashington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++%281974-Current+file%29&edition=&startpage=A1&desc=Moon+Sect+Support+of+Nixon+Detailed | access-date =July 27, 2023 | archive-date =October 23, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121023144523/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/138203752.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Nov+10,+1977&author=By+Charles+R.+BabcockWashington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=A1&desc=Moon+Sect+Support+of+Nixon+Detailed | url-status =dead}}</ref> Fefferman testified that he had arranged a meeting in 1975 between [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] aide [[Edwin Feulner]] of [[the Heritage Foundation]] and South Korean Minister Kim Yung Hwan, to potentially put together a group of congressional aides who would travel to South Korea.<ref name="bellant">{{cite book | last =Bellant | author-link =Russ Bellant | first =Russ | title =The Coors Connection | publisher =South End Press | year =1999 | pages =[https://archive.org/details/coorsconnectionh00bell/page/5 5–6] | isbn =0-89608-416-7 | url =https://archive.org/details/coorsconnectionh00bell/page/5}}</ref><ref name="babcock" /> Hwan was the then-station chief for the KCIA.<ref name="babcock" />

During his testimony, Fefferman refused to answer nine questions from the subcommittee, saying that they violated his constitutional rights to freedom of religion and association.<ref name="balks" /> The subcommittee recommended that Fefferman be cited for [[contempt of Congress]].<ref name="babcock" /><ref name="balks">{{cite news | last =The Associated Press | author-link =Associated Press | title =Moon official balks at probe, faces House contempt action | work =[[Eugene Register-Guard]] | date =November 5, 1977 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rRMRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5054,1158886&dq=moon-official-balks-at-probe-faces&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =New York Times Abstracts |work =[[The New York Times]] | page =9 | date =August 5, 1977}}</ref> Fefferman, speaking to ''[[The Michigan Daily]]'' in 1980, said the subcommittee's recommendations were never taken up and no charges were pressed.<ref name="Moondenies">{{cite news | last =Hirschel | first =Alison | title =Rev. Moon's CARP recruits on campus | work =[[The Michigan Daily]] | date =April 20, 1980 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uUZKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1894,5213859& | access-date =July 26, 2023 | archive-date =July 26, 2023 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230726162649/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uUZKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1894,5213859& | url-status =live }}</ref>

===Defamation lawsuit against the ''Daily Mail''===

In 1978, the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', a British [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] newspaper, published an article with the headline: "The Church That Breaks Up Families."<ref name=":10">{{Citation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/world/moon-s-sect-loses-libel-suit-in-london.html|first=William|last=Borders|title=Moon's Sect Loses Libel Suit in London|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 1, 1981|access-date=November 9, 2023|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105231914/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/world/moon-s-sect-loses-libel-suit-in-london.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>"The Church That Breaks Up Families," ''Daily Mail'' (London), May 29, 1978.</ref> The article accused the Unification Church of [[brainwashing]] and separating families. The British Unification Church's director [[Dennis Orme]] filed a [[Defamation|libel]] suit against the ''Daily Mail'' and [[Associated Newspapers]], its parent company, resulting in one of the longest civil actions in British legal history{{snd}}lasting six months.<ref name=":10" /><ref>Hilary Devries, ed., "Unification Church loses suit against British paper," ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', April 1, 1981.</ref><ref name=":0">[[James T. Richardson]] and Barend van Driel, "New Religious Movements in Europe: Developments and Reactions" in ''Anti-Cult Movements in Cross-Cultural Perspective'', edited by Anson Shupe and David G. Bromley, 129–170 [144], (New York: Garland, 1994), {{ISBN|9780815314288}}.</ref> Orme and the Unification Church lost the libel case and the appeal , and were refused permission to take their case to the [[Judicial functions of the House of Lords|House of Lords]].<ref name=":0" />

The original case heard 117 witnesses, including American [[Anti-cult movement|anti-cult]] psychiatrist [[Margaret Singer|Margaret Thaler Singer]].<ref name=":10" /> In the original case, the Unification Church was ordered to pay Associated Newspapers £750,000 in costs which was maintained after appeal.<ref>Eileen Barker, ''[[The Making of a Moonie|The Making of a Moonie: Choice or Brainwashing?]]'' (1984; repr., Oxford: [[Basil Blackwell]], 1989), 2. {{ISBN?}}</ref> The jury of the original case not only awarded Associated Newspapers costs, but it and the judge requested that the [[Attorney General for England and Wales|Attorney General]] re-examine the Unification Church's charitable status, which after a lengthy investigation from 1986 to 1988 was not removed.<ref name=":11">Eileen Barker, "General Overview of the "Cult Scene" in Great Britain," ''[[Nova Religio|Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions]]'' 4, no. 2 (2001): 235–240, [236].{{ISBN?}}</ref><ref>George D. Chryssides, ''Exploring New Religions'' (London and New York: Cassell, 1999), 358. {{ISBN|9780304336517}}</ref>

According to [[George Chryssides]], about half of the Unification Church's 500 full-time members in the UK moved to the United States.<ref>George D. Chryssides, "Britain's Anti-cult movement," in ''New Religious Movements: Changes and Responses'', edited by Jamie Cresswell and Bryan Wilson, 257–273 [268], (London and New York: Routledge, 1999), {{ISBN|9780415200509}}.</ref> The Unification Church sold seven of its twelve principal church centers after the ruling.<ref>George D. Chryssides, "Britain's Changing Faiths: Adaptation in a New Environment," in ''The Growth of Religious Diversity: Britain from 1945, Volume II: Issues'', edited by G. Parson, 55–84 [79], London: Routledge, 1994. {{ISBN|978-0415083287}}</ref> Other anti-cultists in countries such as Germany sought to incorporate the [[High Court of Justice|London High Court]]'s decision into law.<ref name=":0" /> The Unification Church has won other libel and [[defamation]] cases in the United Kingdom, including a similar case against ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.<ref name=":11" />

===''United States v. Sun Myung Moon''===
{{Main|United States v. Sun Myung Moon}}

In 1982, Moon was imprisoned in the United States after a jury found him guilty of willfully filing false federal [[income tax]] returns and conspiracy. The Unification Church of the United States members launched a public-relations campaign in response. Booklets, letters, and videotapes were mailed to approximately 300,000 Christian leaders in the United States. Many of them signed petitions protesting the government's case.<ref name="ReferenceJ" /> The [[American Baptist Church|American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.]], the [[National Council of Churches]], the [[National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus]], and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] filed briefs in support of Moon.<ref name="ReferenceK" /> Moon served 13 months of the sentence at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury]] in [[Danbury, Connecticut]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/unification/profit.htm Moon's Japanese Profits Bolster Efforts in U.S.] ''[[The Washington Post]]'', September 16, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/augustweb-only/8-6-35.0.html The Unification Church Aims a Major Public Relations Effort at Christian Leaders] ''[[Christianity Today]]'', April 19, 1985.</ref> The case was protested as a case of [[selective prosecution]] and a threat to [[religious freedom]] by, among others, [[Jerry Falwell]], head of [[Moral Majority]], [[Joseph Lowery]], head of the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], [[Harvey Cox]], a professor of [[Divinity (academic discipline)|Divinity]] at [[Harvard]], and [[Eugene McCarthy]], United States Senator and former Democratic Party presidential candidate.<ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/10/11/moons-financial-rise-and-fall-pbab/?dsq=48682316#comment-48682316 Moon's financial rise and fall],''[[Harvard Crimson]]'', October 11, 1984</ref>

===Crown of Peace event in Washington DC===

On March 23, 2004, at a ceremony in the [[Dirksen Senate Office Building]], in [[Washington, D.C.]], Moon crowned himself with what was called the "Crown of Peace."<ref name="babington">{{Cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61932-2004Jun22.html| title=The Rev. Moon Honored at Hill Reception – Lawmakers Say They Were Misled| first1=Charles| last1=Babington|first2=Alan |last2=Cooperman | newspaper=Washington Post| date=June 23, 2004| pages=A01}}</ref><ref name="NYT" /> Lawmakers who attended included Senator [[Mark Dayton]] ([[U.S. Democratic Party|D]]-[[Minnesota|Minn.]]), Representatives [[Roscoe Bartlett]] ([[U.S. Republican Party|R]]-[[Maryland|Md.]]) and [[Elijah Cummings]] (D-Md.), as well as former Representative [[Walter Fauntroy]] (D-D.C.). Key organizers of the event included [[George Augustus Stallings Jr.]], a former [[Roman Catholic]] priest who had been married by Moon and Michael Jenkins, the president of the [[Unification Church of the United States]] at that time.<ref name="babington" /> Rep. [[Danny K. Davis]] (D-[[Illinois|Ill.]]) played an active role in the ceremony. ''[[The New York Times]]'', in 2008, suggested that the participation of federal elected officials in this event was a possible violation of the principle of [[separation of church and state]] in United States law.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E0D81638F934A15755C0A9629C8B63&scp=9&sq=moon+caligula&st=nyt |title=Lawmakers Scurry From the Light |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 27, 2004 |access-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513100839/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E0D81638F934A15755C0A9629C8B63 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===In Japan (1970–2025)===
{{Main|Criticism of the Unification Church in Japan}}

The Unification Church in Japan has faced several controversies:
* Rebranding – In 1997, the Japanese Unification Church's request to change its name was rejected due to ongoing lawsuits. In 2015, the name change to "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification" was approved, though the approval process reportedly involved unusual reports.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Name change by Unification Church a baffling issue years later |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14686350 |website=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref>
* Spiritual sales – The Unification Church in Japan faced accusations of pressuring members into financial ruin through "spiritual sales." This led to 35,000 compensation claims and {{USD|206 million|long=no}} recovered. The church claims it has emphasized legal compliance and stopped these practices since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Worth |first=Robert F. |date=September 18, 2023 |title=The Bizarre Story Behind Shinzo Abe's Assassination |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/10/shinzo-abe-assassination-japan-unification-church-moonies/675114/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=The Atlantic |language=en |issn=2151-9463}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transcript: Unification Church news conference on Abe shooting |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Shinzo-Abe/Transcript-Unification-Church-news-conference-on-Abe-shooting |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=[[Nikkei Asia]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* The [[assassination of Shinzo Abe]] – [[Tetsuya Yamagami]] blamed the Unification Church for his family's bankruptcy; he decided to kill Abe after seeing a video greeting in which he publicly endorsed the Moonies during a virtual rally for the Universal Peace Federation in 2021.<ref name="Kim-2026" /> The assassination led Japan's ruling party (the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democrats]]) to cut ties with the church in August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2022 |title=【独自】関係者「母親は旧統一教会に献金１億円」、土地・自宅売却で破産 : 読売新聞オンライン |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20220713-OYT1T50136/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713085752/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20220713-OYT1T50136/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |access-date=July 25, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title=【速報】旧統一教会と関係絶てない議員「同じ党で活動できない」 自民党・茂木幹事長（TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bfb8dca4cd50160f6c93177b57e9808aa850d110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831073533/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bfb8dca4cd50160f6c93177b57e9808aa850d110 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |access-date=July 25, 2024 }}</ref> On March 25, 2025, a court in Tokyo ordered the Japanese branch of the Unification Church to disband, three years after it had come under scrutiny following Abe's assassination.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Japanese Court Disbands Unification Church in Wake of Abe Killing - The New York Times |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/world/asia/japanese-court-church-disband.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405111851/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/world/asia/japanese-court-church-disband.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 5, 2025 }}</ref>
* Revocation of religious corporation status and subsequent order of disbandment by the Japanese government – On October 12, 2023, Japan's Ministry of Education announced plans to dissolve the Unification Church under Article 81 of the Religious Juridical Person Law, citing deviations from legitimate religious practices. This marked the first such action against a religious organization without a criminal conviction. The church stated its intention to contest the order legally. As of March 7, 2024, the government increased monitoring of the church's assets under a new law aimed at addressing unfair solicitation practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Tim |date=October 12, 2023 |title=Japan to ask court to strip Unification Church of religious status |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-ask-court-strip-unification-church-religious-status-2023-10-12/ |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2024 |title=Japan Puts Unification Church under Stricter Monitoring (Update 1) |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20240307-173028/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=Yomiuri Shimbun |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, on March 25, 2025, the [[Tokyo District Court]] ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church's Japanese branch.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Khalil |first1=Shaimaa |last2=Ng |first2=Kelly |date=March 25, 2025 |title=Japan court orders controversial 'Moonies' church to disband |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge1lr7225yo |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> The ruling revoked the church's legal religious [[judicial person]] status, removing its tax-exempt privileges and requiring the liquidation of its assets. However, the church is still permitted to operate in Japan and has declared its intention to appeal the decision to the Tokyo High Court,<ref>{{cite news |date=March 25, 2025 |script-title=ja:旧統一教会に解散命令 東京地裁 経緯は 今後の手続きは |trans-title="Tokyo District Court Orders Former Unification Church to Dissolve" |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250325/k10014759591000.html |access-date=March 25, 2025 |newspaper=NHK |language=ja}}</ref> citing the request to dissolve was a "serious threat to the human rights and religious freedom of its followers".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2025 |title=A court orders the dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/25/asia/court-dissolution-unification-church-japan-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325075551/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/25/asia/court-dissolution-unification-church-japan-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2025 |access-date=April 12, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2025 |title=A court orders the Unification Church in Japan dissolved |website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-unification-church-dissolution-d5e1fdf3cb671d6ffeb45d75620ef8b2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325085836/https://apnews.com/article/japan-unification-church-dissolution-d5e1fdf3cb671d6ffeb45d75620ef8b2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2025 |access-date=April 12, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2025 |title=Court orders dissolution of Unification Church in Japan - Japan Today |url=https://japantoday.com/category/national/Japanese-court-orders-dissolution-of-Unification-Church |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326003035/https://japantoday.com/category/national/Japanese-court-orders-dissolution-of-Unification-Church |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 26, 2025 |access-date=April 12, 2025 }}</ref>
* Civil lawsuits against Japanese critics and government – The Unification Church and its affiliates filed lawsuits against Japanese media, lawyers, journalists, and ex-members discussing its fundraising and recruitment. Legal actions increased after ties with Japanese politicians were revealed post-Abe's assassination. Critics allege these lawsuits are to silence opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Matsumoto Takahiro |date=July 28, 2023 |title=統一教会がスラップ連発～問われる日本の民主主義 |url=https://sdp.or.jp/sdp-paper/slapp-2/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=社民党 SDP Japan |language=ja}}</ref>
* Child adoption – The Unification Church in Japan was investigated for unauthorized child transfers between members' families since 2018. They reported 31 adoptions but denied acting as intermediaries. Following scrutiny, the church removed references to child adoption from its handbook in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Editorial: Japan gov't needs to uncover Unification Church's murky adoption practice |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230201/p2a/00m/0op/017000c |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Mainichi Daily News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Support for North Korea's development of nuclear weapons===
{{See also|List of North Korean missile tests|List of nuclear weapons tests of North Korea}}

According to [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) reports in August and September 1994, Moon donated 450 billion yen to [[Kim Il Sung]] during his stay in North Korea from November 30, 1991, to December 7, 1992. Those same DIA reports explained an "economic cooperation" for the reconstruction of North Korea's economy was in place. This included establishing a joint venture developing tourism at Kimkangsan, investing in the development of the Tumangang River, in addition to investing in the construction of the "light industry" base located in Wonsan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Robert |date=October 13, 2006 |title=Robert Parry: Moon, North Korea & the Bushes |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00187.htm |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Scoop}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Consortium |url=https://www.consortiumnews.com/2000/101100c.html |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Consortium News}}</ref> Most of the money was said to have been donated to the Unification Church by Japanese believers.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 14, 2022 |script-title=ja:旧統一教会関連会社が北朝鮮に潜水艦を仲介 日本人信者の献金が北の兵器開発に使われていないか 1/2 |url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/178451?display=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124161610/https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/178451?display=1 |archive-date=November 24, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |publisher=[[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS Television]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=Yahoo!ニュース |date=December 8, 2022 |script-title=ja:ペンタゴン文書入手〉北朝鮮ミサイル開発を支える統一教会マネー4500億円 1/3 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c21b79a7405b7b44c0363a1797a517659e3401ee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209045007/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c21b79a7405b7b44c0363a1797a517659e3401ee |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |publisher=Yahoo Japan News |language=ja}}</ref> According to the former chief executive of [[Pyeonghwa Motors]], a Unification Church auto company, the money collected from Japanese devotees was first transferred to South Korea and [[Money laundering|money laundered]], then transferred to [[Hong Kong]] and finally to North Korea. He said he had a close relationship with [[Ju Kyu-chang]], a senior member of the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] and its weapons development chief.<ref name="yjn081222">{{cite web |work=Yahoo!ニュース |date=December 8, 2022 |script-title=ja::ペンタゴン文書入手〉北朝鮮ミサイル開発を支える統一教会マネー4500億円 3/3 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c21b79a7405b7b44c0363a1797a517659e3401ee?page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209052041/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c21b79a7405b7b44c0363a1797a517659e3401ee?page=3 |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |publisher=Yahoo Japan News |language=ja}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=March 2023}}

According to Baek Seung-joo, a former South Korean vice defense minister, has analyzed that money donated by Japanese followers of the Unification Church was diverted to North Korea's nuclear development and development of [[intercontinental ballistic missiles]].<ref name="yjn081222" />{{Request quotation|date=March 2023}} According to Masuo Oe, who was the public relations director of the Unification Church, when Moon said to Kim Il Sung in a meeting, "Please be my brother," Kim Il Sung replied, "Sure, why not?" According to him, believers heard this anecdote and admired that the Messiah had brought Satan to his knees with the power of love. This was a symbolic event that marked a major shift in the anti-communist policies of the Unification Church.<ref>{{cite web |author1=「週刊文春」編集部 |work=文春オンライン |date=September 15, 2022 |script-title=ja:統一教会が北朝鮮に献上した5000億円 文鮮明が金日成に「お兄さんになって」 |url=https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/57334?page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010221246/https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/57334?page=2 |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |publisher=[[Bungeishunju]] |language=ja}}</ref>

According to a 2016 South Korean Defense Ministry parliamentary report, a Tokyo-run company{{Vague|reason=Which company? What's it called? Where are they?|date=March 2023}} operated by members of the Unification Church sold a Russian [[Golf-class submarine|Golf II-class submarine]] still loaded with missile launchers to North Korea in 1994, disguised as scrap metal, and the technology was then diverted to North Korea's development of [[submarine-launched ballistic missile]]s. The Unification Church has denied having any relationship with the company.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 14, 2022 |script-title=ja:旧統一教会関連会社が北朝鮮に潜水艦を仲介 日本人信者の献金が北の兵器開発に使われていないか 2/2 |url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/178451?page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124161050/https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/178451?page=2 |archive-date=November 24, 2022 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |publisher=TBS Television |language=ja}}</ref>

===Controversy in South Korea===
{{See also|Tochak Waegu#Sin-chinilpa}}
[[File:Dr. Hak Xa Han Mun duke mbajtur fjalën kryesore.jpg|thumb|Unification Church leader [[Hak Ja Han]] was arrested in South Korea in September 2025]]
In South Korea, the Unification Church has been criticized for supporting the interests of Japan over those of South Korea. South Korean media reported links between the UC and Japanese conservatives, referring to them as ''[[Chinilpa|Chinil]]'' ({{Korean|hangul=친일|labels=no}}) or [[Tochak Waegu#Sin-chinilpa|''Sin-chinil'']] ({{Korean|hangul=신친일|labels=no}}). Some South Korean media reported a connection between [[Yoon Suk-yeol]]'s pro-Japanese foreign policy and the UC.<ref name="유착">{{cite web | url=https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/4842460 |title='新친일' 통일교와 日자민당 정권 40년 유착.."자민당 의원 180명과 관계" |trans-title='New Chinil[pa]' Unification Church and the Japanese LDP have been in collusion for 40 years. It is even "linked to 180 LDP lawmakers".
 |website=[[No Cut News]] | date=September 5, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=기자 |first1=조하준 | url=https://www.goodmorningcc.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=286769 |script-title=ko:대일 굴욕 외교의 배후는 통일교? |trans-title=Is Unification Church behind [Yoon Suk-yeol government's] pro-Japanese submissive diplomacy? |website=굿모닝충청 | date=April 3, 2023 |access-date=April 22, 2023}}</ref>

Since late July 2024, protests at Cheonjeonggung Palace in [[Gapyeong County|Gapyeong]] began with demands for Vice President Jung Won-joo's resignation, following corruption allegations involving aides close to Hak Ja Han. By late September, the Unification Church Members' Emergency Response Committee joined the demonstrations, which spread by October to major church sites like Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong and Cheonwon Temple in Seoul, continuing calls for Jung's resignation.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 7, 2024 |script-title=ko:'통일교' 부패간부 퇴진하라! 집회 이어져... 헌금유용 도박·횡령·기관로비 의혹까지 |trans-title="Calls for the Resignation of Corrupt 'Unification Church' Officials Continue as Allegations of Embezzlement, Gambling, and Lobbying Surface" |url=http://www.churchheresy.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1481 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |newspaper=Church and Heresy |language=ko}}</ref>

The conservative [[People Power Party|People Power Party]] (PPP) and the liberal [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party]] (DPK) are embroiled in a political scandal involving allegations of receiving illegal political funds and donations from the Unification Church.<ref>{{cite news |title=People Power Party Demands Probe into Democratic Party's Unification Church Funds |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/12/06/CZSLTZD2EBGEJELQ3KBKLEUNHQ/ |work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> [[Hak Ja Han]], the leader of the Unification Church, was arrested in South Korea in September 2025 on various corruption charges, including bribery and embezzlement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/arrest-warrant-unification-church-hak-ja-han-a94265a743ff76f860f1b5df9f6bed3f|title=Unification Church leader arrested in bribery case involving former South Korean president's wife|first=Kim|last=Tong-Hyung|publisher=Associated Press|date=September 22, 2025|accessdate=September 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Unification Church leader indicted over alleged political donations |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10591078 |work=The Korea Herald |date=October 10, 2025}}</ref> Also indicted in 2025 were Jeong Won-ju, who served as Han's chief of staff,<ref>{{cite news |title=Unification Church leaders charged with financing PPP candidates, but donations to DP excluded from probe |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-12-02/national/socialAffairs/Unification-Church-leaders-charged-with-financing-PPP-candidates-but-donations-to-DP-excluded-from-probe-/2467922 |work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |date=December 2, 2025}}</ref> and former World Headquarters Director-General Yun Young-ho.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Unification Church Head Admits Donations to Democratic Party Lawmakers |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/12/05/VEHCRPURXVF2TE37Y755GJECX4/ |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> On September 11, 2025, the National Assembly approved a motion to arrest former PPP floor leader [[Kweon Seong-dong]] on charges of bribery from the Unification Church.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nat'l Assembly approves arrest motion of PPP lawmaker |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250911011400315 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |access-date=September 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=President agrees on religious leaders' call for disbanding Unification Church, Shincheonji - The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20260112/president-agrees-on-religious-leaders-call-for-disbanding-unification-church-shincheonji |website=The Korea Times |access-date=3 February 2026 |language=en |date=12 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Unification Church, Shincheonji face probe over possible disbandment - The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260115/unification-church-shincheonji-face-probe-over-possible-disbandment |website=www.koreatimes.co.kr |access-date=3 February 2026 |language=en |date=14 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Joint Prosecution-Police Search Rep. Chun's Office Over Evidence Destruction |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/02/11/LLLXKS3CPBEHVBHA76GYSUCTBQ/ |website=The Chosun Daily |access-date=11 February 2026 |language=en |date=11 February 2026}}</ref>

=== Secrecy and esoteric ===
The Unification Church is sometimes said to be a [[secret society]] in that it keeps some of its doctrines secret from non-members,<ref>Evangelical-Unification Dialogue (Conference series – Unification Theological Seminary; no. 3) Richard Quebedeaux, Rodney Sawatsky, Paragon House, 1979, {{ISBN|093289402X}}, pp. 77–99.</ref><ref>[[Frederick Sontag]],1977, ''Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church'', [[Abingdon Press]], {{ISBN|0687406226}}, p. 185.</ref><ref>[[Irving Louis Horowitz]], 1978, ''Science, Sin, and Scholarship: The Politics of Reverend Moon and the Unification Church'', MIT Press, {{ISBN|0262081008}}, p. 114</ref> a practice that is sometimes called "heavenly deception."<ref>''The A to Z of New Religious Movements'', George D. Chryssides
Scarecrow Press, 2006, p. 155</ref> In 1979, critics D. Tingle and R. Fordyce commented: "How different the openness of Christianity is to the attitude of Reverend Moon and his followers who are often reluctant to reveal to the public many of their basic doctrines."<ref>Tingle, D. and Fordyce, R. 1979, The Phases and Faces of the Moon: A Critical Examination of the Unification Church and Its Principles, Hicksville, New York: Exposition Press {{ISBN|0682492647}}, pp. 20–21</ref> Since the 1990s, many Unification texts that were formerly regarded as [[esoteric]] have been posted on the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification's official websites.<ref>George D. Chryssides, "Unificationism: A study in religious syncretism", Chapter 14 in ''Religion: empirical studies'', Editor: Steven Sutcliffe, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004, {{ISBN|978-0-7546-4158-2}}, p. 232.</ref>

==="Crazy for God"===
{{main|Crazy for God}}

In ''The Way of God's Will'', a collection of sayings popular among church members, Moon is quoted as saying: "We leaders should leave the tradition that we have become crazy for God."<ref name="Unification.org"/> In 1979 Unification Church critic [[Christopher Edwards (author)|Christopher Edwards]] titled a memoir about his experiences in the six months he spent as a church member: ''Crazy for God: The Nightmare of Cult Life.''.<ref name="Crazy for God"/>