Cosmic Blessing Draws Early Media Coverage
Even before thousands of Unificationists tie the knot during the February 2014 Marriage Blessing Ceremony (known as the “Cosmic Blessing”) in Korea and at satellite ceremonies around the world, the upcoming event sacred to Unificationists has already garnered encouraging media coverage.
One of the most notable media breakthroughs is coverage from The Religion News Service (RNS), a news wire just like the Associated Press. RNS published a commentary by young Unificationist Judilee King on Feb. 7, 2014 about how she met her spouse-to-be and how she decided to be arranged in marriage by her parents. The opinion piece by Ms. King is titled, “COMMENTARY: My parents arranged my marriage, and I am cool with that.” The commentary is available to 170 newspapers through RNS and The Salt Lake City Tribune published the piece on Feb. 7th.
Additionally, on Feb. 7, 2014, local TV station FOX 46 Carolinas, broadcasted a feature story, “Local Woman Shares Wedding Day with over 2,000 Brides,” about a new Unificationist couple’s upcoming attendance at the Cosmic Blessing Ceremony.
The participation of a young Unificationist couple from Los Angeles and Germany in the Cosmic Blessing has been published by the Beacon Media Group in Los Angeles Area in several of its community newspapers, including the Temple City Tribune: “Rosemead man joins mass arranged wedding ceremony in Korea”.
The coverage of more Unificationists participating in the Cosmic Blessing can be still promoted.
“There is plenty of time for Unificationists to promote the participation of their children or friends in the Cosmic Blessing of 2014,” says Doug Burton, former Public Affairs Director of FFWPU. They can simply call their favorite TV station and advise them that an anniversary of an historic wedding is coming soon, and that local young adults will observe it in their own sacred wedding ceremonies.
“We have one couple in Los Angeles, one couple in Washington, D.C., four couples in the San Leandro Family Church center (San Francisco area), three couples in the Westchester, NY area and 22 couples in the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown, New York.” Mr. Burton added. “During National Marriage Week, it makes sense to point out that during an epoch when marriage appears to be declining in the United States, it is as important as ever in the Family Federation for World Peace, previously known as the Unification Church….In all U.S. churches, marriage is a sacrament, but in the Unification Church it is the sacrament.” he said.
“The reason marriage is important is that Unificationists don’t believe that individuals without their spouses enter Heaven in the afterlife. Rev. Moon taught that our time on earth is our opportunity to learn how to love each other, most especially our spouses,” Mr. Burton said. “Having learned to love and harmonize with our spouses over a long period of time, we are ready to live in the Kingdom of Heaven,” he explained.