Moon-Related Funds Directed to Liberty University via Christian Heritage Foundation

Affiliates of Sun Myung Moon, the controversial leader of the Unification Church, have historically supported and engaged with conservative evangelical groups. Recent reports indicate that financial assistance from Moon-related organizations has reached Liberty University. Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty, stated that the origin of such funds does not affect his ministry.

Falwell remarked that if an unrestricted gift were sent by the American Atheists Society or Saddam Hussein, he would accept it, citing Billy Sunday’s philosophy: “The Devil’s had it long enough, and quickly cash the check.”

Moon, who claims to be divinely appointed to complete Jesus’ unfulfilled mission, asserts that Jesus failed as the Messiah because he did not marry and have children. Moon, a divorced 78-year-old, says he and his current wife, Hak Ja Han Moon, 53, are the “true parents of all humanity.”

In November, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), led by Moon’s wife, contributed $3.5 million to the Christian Heritage Foundation (CHF) in Virginia for “educational purposes” in 1995. Susan Fefferman, chair of WFWP, explained that Falwell regularly met with a group of professional women working on Japanese-American friendships. In return, WFWP provided scholarships through CHF, and Falwell indicated that the $3.5 million could be sent to CHF on behalf of Liberty.

Daniel Reber, co-founder of CHF, clarified that the funds were intended for missions projects, not to assist Liberty with its debt. “Not one penny of the Women’s Federation grant was ever used to assist Liberty in its reduction of debt,” Reber told Christianity Today.

Reber and Jimmy Thomas purchased and forgave $5 million in debt to aid Liberty’s financially struggling school in Lynchburg. CHF also provided $500,000 to complete the construction of the dining hall, which had stalled due to unpaid contractors. Reber had previously worked as a fundraiser for Falwell’s Old Time Gospel Hour and co-founded CHF in 1987 with Thomas, who had served as chief financial officer of Falwell’s Moral Majority.

Source: Read the original report