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In his statement, Grant admitted, "A conspiratorial mind might be inclined to view this cooperation with some misgivings." However, he said that notion should be "quickly dispelled."

"With a national membership of already over 300,000 members and national control of the agenda by our five-member corporate board," Grant said, "the question of domination of the AFC by any particular religious interest group or individual is not a valid or even thinkable concern."

Yet for some Christian activists, the possibility of a hidden agenda designed not only to strengthen the Unification Church politically but help the church gain acceptance among the broader Christian community raises serious concerns. In recent years, CAUSA has attracted hundreds of pastors, educators, media leaders, and legislators to leadership conferences. Participants are given an all-expense-paid trip for themselves and their spouses.

At these meetings, "Godism" is touted as the means to defeat communism. According to the CAUSA Lecture Manual, Godism was developed by Moon "through extraordinary communication with God" and will unite all mankind, "for we are all the children of God" (CT, June 14, 1985, p. 55).

Literature promoting AFC speaks of an "all-inclusive" group and emphasizes that churches will play a key role, but does not specify any particular religious groups. The list of AFC "basic tenets" begins with "Almighty God is the Source of all liberty," and includes affirmations of "full religious expression," that "life is God-created" and that "we are our 'brother's keeper' internationally and should assist the people of the world to attain true peace and freedom."

Charles Lindley of Christ's Bible Church in Hamilton, Montana, said he received an unsolicited AFC promotional mailing that talked about God, traditional values, and the moral and spiritual foundation of the nation. A letter responding to his request for more information mentioned Christian Voice, Ralph Abernathy, and the fact that Ichord and Wilson are Baptist and Viguerie is Catholic. It never mentioned the Unification Church.

Lindley said had he joined AFC only later to discover Unification involvement, he "most definitely would have felt deceived."

Grant denied any "secretive" connections with the Unification Church or any other religious group. "I fail to see any compelling reason to mention the Unification Church or any other church for that matter, inasmuch as the AFC is not a church coalition, nor does it seek to emphasize the concerns or doctrines of any particular church," he said.

He emphasized that AFC is a political coalition formed because of the "inability of the 'Christian Right' to achieve its agenda "due to its "fragmentation and its failure to build coalitions with its philosophical allies from other communities for effective civic participation."

This article originally appeared in the Feb. 5, 1988, issue of Christianity Today. At the time, Kim Lawton was a Washington Correspondent for the magazine.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

In Perspective: Why Are Pastors Flying to Moon | Recent black clergy firings are only the latest chapter in Unification Church's efforts to court Christian leaders.

CT Classic: Sun Myung Moon's Followers Recruit Christians to Assist in Battle Against Communism | Funded by the Unification Church, CAUSA seeks an interfaith effort based on Moon's theology. (June 14, 1985)

CT Classic: The Unification Church Aims a Major Public Relations Effort at Christian Leaders | A mass mailing to 300,000 church leaders tries to clarify the teachings of Sun Myung Moon. (April 19, 1985)

CT Classic: With Their Leader in Prison, Moonies Pursue Legitimacy | Tim LaHaye and other Christians are helping the Unification Church battle the perceived threat of government intrusion. (September 7, 1984)

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