the churches

Religion

The battle of the churches

Western Samoa’s mainstream Christian churches try to block the Moonies from getting established

By Alan Ah Mu

Western Samoa’s constitution states the country is “founded on God”, but which God? The constitution does not specify whether it is the one worshipped by the mainstream Christian churches or not, apparently leaving no legal barrier for even cults to establish themselves in the country.

The issue popped up when the National Council of Churches, a body formed by the mainstream Christian churches, called on the government to have the Unification Church removed from the country because it believes it the latter is not a Christian church.

The problem with that request, as lawyer Tasi Malifa pointed out, is that the consti tution - the supreme law in the land guarantees freedom of religion.

Seti Atimalala, local president of the Unification Church (popularly referred to as the Moonies after it’s leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon), said he wants to make peace with the NCC.

In the fight against immorality, the main thing is not to “fractionalise and fight,” because “people have to work together,” he said. “But if they want to kick me out, they can’t. No way.”

The NCC may not have the powers to kick the Moonies out but one of its mem bers, the Methodist Church, gave them notice to vacate their premises. It had leased two of its downtown offices to Atimalala and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (which he was linked to).

The Methodist secretary-general, Reverend Faatoese Auvaa, said they had been misled by information in the lease application form. Like other organisations started or inspired by Reverend Moon, such as the International Relief Friendship Foundation, Professors World Peace Academy and the World Media Association, WFWP was an “expression of peace” which members of other church es could join, said Atimalala.

‘You can’t tell me you don’t need a new religion, a new

morality’

-Seti Atimalala

“They are not fronts,” he said, pointing out that WFWP’s president and vice-pres ident were not “Unificationists”. “The Women’s Federation is an entity in itself.”

Atimalala, a high-ranking martial arts exponent, said there were many pro grammes, such as prevention of AIDS and teenage pregnancies, that could be imple mented through co-operation between churches and using organisations like the

Wfwp.

He has not been able to convince the NCC of this and critics have instead

focused on “theological differences”.

“Very small-minded these guys,” he said.

“I haven’t even registered yet (as a church). That’s the ironic thing,” said Atimalala, who nevertheless claims about a dozen converts so far.

Moreover, he sees a definite need for the Unification Church - which has members in all Pacific islands except the Cooks and Tahiti - because the main churches are “sick” and need energy.

With all the rapes, incest, murder and all the other instances of immorality around, “you can’t tell me we don’t need a new religion, a new morality,” he said.

The “persecution” he was going through was common at the beginning of a new” understanding”, he said. “So these guys can hit me, can hit the church all they like, you know. This is the time for it.”

Auvaa questioned how Reverend Moon could say he was the Messiah when he had many wives and had been jailed. “How can he be the Saviour of the world?” Only Jesus Christ is the Messiah, he said.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, NCC chairman Reverend Siatua Leuluaialii said, “Our constitution states that we are a nation founded on God and thus (on) Christian principles”, but the constitution is contradictory because it also contained a clause about freedom of religion. The newspaper editorialised that the “Moonies may have a dubious history. They may not be Christians and may be a cult. But if we take heed of the constitution, it is for the people to decide if they are worthy of being here - no one else.”

Atimalala criticised villages like Sapapalii - where missionary John Williams had landed - which ban all but one church, the Congregational Church of Samoa which most Samoans belong to.

“It’s wrong that people cannot believe and practise what they believe in,” he said.

“I think that’s terribly wrong.”

“It must be noted though that while some villages like Sapapalii allow only one denomination on their soil, those with dif ferent beliefs are allowed to go and wor ship in churches of their choice in other villages.

Meanwhile, Atimalala is preparing for a Unification Church mass marriage cere mony, the “Holy Blessing”, in August where even married couples from other religions are invited to have their mar riages blessed.

He said couples from 160 countries, linked by satellite, will take part. Single people looking for “good spouses” in Western Samoa, and Atimalala is ponder ing whether to join them, may apply via an application form to Reverend and Mrs Moon to match them with someone suit able.

The NCC has not yet issued a statement about that event but it’s hard to imagine it not responding.

A mainstream church in Western Samoa