An e-mailer accused me of religious bigotry for my recent harsh posts about Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. This isn't the first time I've been accused of religious bigotry. When I confronted Sean Hannity about Jerry Falwell's venality and smear tactics as well as Pat Robertson's nuttiness, Slanthead accused me of "hatred toward Christian conservatives." Here is my position on Moon and the Unification Church:
- Moon is a sexual predator.
- Moon despises individualism and democracy.
- Moon is a thief who has bilked hundreds of millions--if not billions--of dollars from people.
- The rank and file of the Unification Church are generally decent people who are being exploited by Moon.
- The Unification Church is primarily a political movement and Moon craves power, not spiritual redemption.
- Moon has used billions of dollars of his ill-gotten money to become a huge power player in Washington as well as to cultivate ties with the Bush family.
- The word "Moonie" is a derogatory term, but using a derogatory term to describe a corrupt organization is not bigotry.
The upshot is that predatory political operatives in religious clothing can't have it both ways. They can't go into the political arena and play smashmouth politics and then not expect people to hit back. If being a member of the clergy gives automatic protection from criticism, then anyone who starts his own religion would be granted immunity from scrutiny. If I were to establish the Church of Partyology, should I be deserving of immunity from criticism?
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