Message from the International President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, regarding the request for a corporate dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan
Respected and beloved blessed families and members of the Unificationist family around the world:
Since the shocking incident that took place in Japan on July 8 last year, issues related to the Family Federation in Japan have come out, and on October 13, 2023, the Japanese government applied to the court for an order to dissolve the Family Federation of Japan as an incorporated religious organization. As a result, members of the Unification Church and blessed families around the world are shocked and saddened, and we at the International Headquarters also feel this very deeply. Most notably, our Japanese blessed families and members have been working tirelessly day and night to build a world of one family of humanity under our Heavenly Parent, and as the international president of the Family Federation, I would like to offer them words of comfort for their emotional suffering.
The International Headquarters issued a statement soon after the Japanese government announced that it would request a dissolution order for the Japan Family Federation as an incorporated religious organization. In our statement, we first express our deep regret over the Japanese government’s decision; second, we express our hope that discrimination, persecution, and human rights violations due to hatred for or prejudice against Family Federation members will never occur in Japanese society; and third, I express my personal regret and sense of moral responsibility as a leader for not being able to protect the blessed families and members, who are feeling extremely worried and isolated through this situation. In the statement we also promise to create a Unification church culture that is worthy of society’s trust by actively supporting and cooperating with the Japanese Family Federation’s efforts to ensure strict compliance with their policies, reform within the church, and enhancement of the happiness of blessed families and members.
Dear blessed families and members of our worldwide Unificationist family
Two thousand years ago, when Jesus went to the cross to forgive the sins of humankind, he said, regarding those who mocked him, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) It was a prayer of forgiveness. Even though True Father was an innocent man sent to prison six times, he always prayed for the world and said, “Even though I am going to the bottom of hell now, when I walk out of there, I will come out having forged hundreds and thousands of paths to victory.” And True Parents always achieved this. Mother also said of the current ordeal that it is “the labor pains to give birth to a healthy child.”
Since the “declaration of compliance” in 2009, centered on True Mother the Japan Family Federation has made steady efforts in reform to create a Japanese church that truly serves our Heavenly Parent. To create happy families, a healthy church, and a peaceful society, the members of our Family Federation
in Japan have constantly volunteered to serve their local communities, and the dedication of members living for the sake of others has established it as a representative model, an example for Unificationist communities around the world. Nevertheless, we will be reexamining the areas where we have not earned sufficient trust from society, and we resolve to begin anew.
Dear blessed families and members of our worldwide Unificationist family
On page 344 of True Mother’s memoir, she says the following:
“My husband, Father Sun Myung Moon, and I have lived our whole lives for the liberation of God’s homeland. We have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to hide.
I have never looked back, nor to the left or the right; I have only looked at the path ahead. I never became attached to my circumstances. Night or day, there has never been a moment that I did not keep Heavenly Parent with me. In the Kremlin, we said to the leaders that they should remove the statues of Lenin and accept God. In the presidential residence in North Korea, we spoke out. On that foundation, President Mikhail Gorbachev and Chairman Kim Il Sung opened their hearts. We never wavered for the sake of the liberation of God’s homeland. Whenever crises arose, Heavenly Parent guided us with pillars of fire and cloud.”
True Mother has never let go of Heavenly Parent in her heart, even for a moment. In order to victoriously overcome the current situation, we must take the direction of oneness of heart, body, mindset and harmony with True Mother. We must also pray to Heavenly Parent with an even more earnest heart for those who do not understand Heavenly Parent’s providence and who persecute us. So, when our fiery filial devotion and prayers to Heaven are full and overflowing, God will surely lead us on the path to victory.
This is true. The driving force turning crisis into opportunity, despair into hope, is becoming one with Heavenly Parent and True Father, and becoming completely one with True Mother on earth. This means offering unchanging devotions and prayer to our Heavenly Parent in absolute faith, absolute love, and absolute obedience. Let us all pray for the salvation of Japan so that it can become a mother nation respected throughout the world. Let us also pray for the salvation of all people, that they can live with Heavenly Parent. Let us do our best to ensure that through Cheon Shim Won our united prayers are delivered to Heavenly Parent.
Heavenly Parent and True Parents are always with us. We at the International Headquarters offer our prayers for the blessed families and members of our global Unificationist family, for the nation of Japan, and for our world.
October 14, 2023
Song Yong-cheon, International President Family Federation for World Peace and Unification