Codee Sato was in the same Unification Church Blessing as me: 30,000 couples at Seoul Olympic Stadium. I didn't know her or her husband, but we connected on Facebook, and I enjoyed her outspoken status updates. Codee now belongs to Sean Moon’s World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, a branch of the Unification Church to develop since Reverend Moon’s death in 2012. Hak Ja Han Moon, Reverend Moon's wife and Sean Moon's mother, leads the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, another branch. I asked Codee if she would share a little with me about her faith.
What are the most positive aspects of the church ceremonies at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Pennsylvania? What makes you feel drawn to this movement?
The gathering of saints and heroes or patriots of our time, honoring the words of God as responsible defenders of truth and of good people as sovereign families and community. The people there are the true agents of real change and true love for America.
Has Sean Moon inherited the role of Messiah from his father? If so, how was this determined?
Sean Moon inherited the mission of his Father the Messiah. He has the same full authority as the representative of God and the Messiah on Earth. It’s determined by the Principle, by the power of the word, which is the truth that God’s purpose or intention when he created Man was to dwell in man. That man is the lineage of God. God has chosen the Moon seed to engraft mankind to his lineage.
What is the significance of the “rods of iron?” Is this something that was prophesied in The Bible or the Divine Principle?
Yes it’s definitely in the Bible. You can search this yourself.
Does this signify an upcoming time of trial or war?
I believe that this is happening already. Europe has been experiencing a great change in history. The Muslim and Christian worlds are definitely at war at this time and age.
Do you own a gun? If so, can you tell me something about how you chose it and bought it?
Since I live in Europe, I only own a BB Gun. Deadly enough to shoot someone in the eyes who tries to attack me or my family. I’m a member of a shooting club and so I practice twice a week to be a better shooter.
What do your children think about the rods of iron? Do any of them know how to shoot?
The Club is a family membership, so the kids can learn to shoot anytime they want. We do our own self-defense training at home, mainly martial arts.
Did you go to the commitment ceremony? Did your children go?
I’m not sure about the commitment ceremony question here, but if you mean the event, yes I was there with my mom, my husband and my three children.
Were you married at a Unification Church Blessing Ceremony? If so, which one, and are you still together?
1992 and it depends on how you define “still together”. But we are a great team.
How does your partner feel about the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary and their practices? Are most of your friends supportive?
Again, we are a great team and most of my real good friends are open minded about my beliefs or about Unification Sanctuary. But there are also those who questions a lot and have their doubts.
The Unification Church under Reverend Sun Myung Moon had as one of its central tenets the sanctity of eternal marriage. How do you see this playing out in the lives of your children?
You’ll have to ask my children. My children are open to this challenge. But as a family, our first relationship is with God before with our spouses. So our faith in God will remain even if our spouses leaves. Also my family do not believe in divorce.