RADIO INTERVIEW: "MARRIAGE BLESSINGS"

Grant Bracefield (FFWPU) interview

John Banks Breakfast Show

Radio Pacific (national network)

New Zealand

6.40am, 6 February, 1999

Editor's note.

The Honourable John Banks is one of New Zealand's most

popular media commentators. He has been (and still is) a

Member of Parliament for nearly 20 years, only a handful of

Members have been in parliament longer than Mr. Banks.

During that time he has held Cabinet posts in the Police, Civil

Defense and Emergency, Tourism, Sport and Recreation

portfolios. In 1996 he resigned from Cabinet in order to become

an early morning (6-8am, Monday - Friday) radio news and talk

show host, because he wanted to be "at the cutting edge of

debate", as I recall that he put it.

Some minor amendments have been made to this transcript,

correcting some grammar and basically making it a bit easier

and clearer for the person reading it. I believe that this

transcript accurately reflects what was said in the interview. (G.

Roberts)

(6.28am before the news broadcast)

John Banks: Over the years, marriage blessings, 3 couples were

blessed in 1960, 40 million couples were married together at

one time in 1997. We talk to the Family Federation for World

Peace and Unification, the church, after the news.

(After the news broadcast)

John Banks: For the past 50 years, Reverend Sun Myung Moon

has guided a movement whose idea is to transcend nations,

ideologies, religions and races in a wide variety of fields on a

global scale.

This morning we decided to talk with local President Grant

Bracefield. Good morning to you, Grant.

Grant Bracefield: Good morning John.

J B: Very good news yesterday. A good conference. Did you have

a good meeting with your people in New Zealand yesterday?

G B: Yes, we had a couple of hundred people gathered at the

Barrycourt Conference Centre in Auckland where we had a

direct satellite link up to the Olympic Stadium in Seoul. It was

just an amazing event. The stadium was filled with young

married couples and newly married couples.

All over the world, I think there were 185 countries linked up

and people from 193 countries participated.

J B: And of course, we are talking about the Family Federation

for World Peace and Unification and the Reverend Moon has a

programme to bless 360,000,000 couples before the year 2001.

G B: That's right. Yes, well that figure is very close to being

achieved already. We will probably receive reports of the

details over the next few days but, just looking at the response, I

know that there are millions and millions. In Africa and Asia

millions of people are coming out. Although it has been a bit

more difficult in the western countries where we are extremely

individualistic but I know that those numbers are actually

happening.

J B: Of course your church believes, if I am correct, that 'the

world is one home, mankind is one family under God'. It is very

family oriented.

G B: Yes.

J B: And I know many people who follow the Very Reverend

Moon, as you do, and up and down the country, folks listening

now would have ideas about these religious people as

something sort of a bit wacky. Don't they? It's disappointing,

isn't it?

G B: Yes, John. As for myself, I joined the church 25 years ago. In

fact, the first 2 years, 1973 and 1974, I spent in America. At that

time Reverend Moon was seen as a wonderful new Christian

prophet. He was welcomed in centres around America by

overflowing crowds coming to see him speaking at public

rallies.

Then a few people started complaining about various aspects of

theology and within a year, the media had turned it around to a

point where we were sort of victimized.

J B: I think there's quite a lot of jealousy because there was a

recent CBS programme where they ... (Editor's note, here, Mr.

Banks raises allegations about the Moon family's wealthy

lifestyle) ... and I suppose people have a bit of jealousy there.

G B: Yes, I guess that happens. Any movement which grows so

quickly needs facilities and the facilities don't belong to Rev

Moon.

He's usually most happy when he is on a fishing boat, in a pair

of shorts, out in Alaska or anywhere, surrounded by people. He

just loves the company of other people.

J B: There was an extremely derogatory programme just recently,

a couple of weeks ago about the Rev Moon and his family,

about how they are a dysfunctional family. (Editor's note. A CBS

"60 Minutes" report broadcast in the USA in September, 1998

was shown in New Zealand last month.)

For someone who believes 'the world is one home, mankind is

one family under God', it wasn't good publicity was it?

G B: Yes. I guess that you have to look at the whole focus of that

programme. How many other evangelists or great people in

history, who have a large number of children by the way, and

who are extremely public and always moving around the world,

often have to rely on a lot of other people to help raise the

children?

His older son, Hyo Jin, had a lot of problems. But he is so

repentant and very humble these days. (Editor's note. Hyo Jin's

marriage broke up in 1995 and could not be reconciled. There

are five children and they live with their mother. Hyo Jin

remarried on 5 February, 1999)

J B: Well, what keeps my thinking on the straight and level with

the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the

church, under the Very Reverend Moon is the fact that I've

known you for such a long time and your family and you are

good people who make a great contribution and you have done

very well in business and held down big jobs. You're not at all

wacky!

G B: Yes, that's the test of the pudding at the end of it all, it's the

people.

I thought about it, looked at it from all angles for 25 years, John

-- and I've appreciated knowing you during those times we

were in tourism and other activities -- as you say, people are

scared by the thoughts and ideas conjured up and unfortunately,

I don't think religion is covered all that well in the news media.

J B: Grant Bracefield, if someone listening this morning and we

have a huge audience, of course, wants to get hold of you, the

President of the church here in New Zealand, how would they

contact you if they want more information about the Family

Federation for World Peace and Unification and Rev. Moon?

G B: They can call me on (07) 377 4451.

J B: Thanks for joining us this morning, Grant Bracefield.

Appreciate your time.