It is amazing how the African American community can empower itself to raise up its own leadership in order to address the issues it faces as a community, yet and still a single journalist – who has an ax to grind--can come along and publish a skewed article “Moonies knee-deep in faith based funds” in an effort to dismantle its validity and mission.

Don Lattin, religious editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, published this article– Sunday, October 3, 2004 as an attempt to “expose” the current Administration of what he believes to be a conspiracy brought about by the Unification Church to tap into the resources allocated for faith based organizations under the Healthy Marriage Initiative.  Lattin’s article, although well written and somewhat persuasive, was in truth one of consistent inaccuracies.  In an effort to expose the works of the Unification Church specifically, Lattin has irresponsibly sought to uncover ‘ties’ between it and other agencies who are independently developing programs to help educate people who are not only choosing marriage for themselves but also those who simply want to establish better forms of communicating in the relationships they are in. It is unfortunate that while Pastors and Leaders in the African American community are seeking to restore its familial structures in order to develop healthier marriages and relationships, along comes an article such as this seeking to undermine its honorable efforts.

African American families are not only divorcing at an all-time high, but also the idea of marriage has dwindled from once being the bond of the two individuals committed to one another for a life time to now a state where most are satisfied with the idea of cohabiting, even if that means no formal commitment is made. Seventy-five percent of all African American children are born out of wedlock nationally.  Domestic violence in the inner city goes far more unreported than in any other community.  An argument can be made that the highly African American populated prisons can be linked to the breakdown of the family in the inner city.  Furthermore, with the rise of infidelity and remarriage in faith-based institutions it is no wonder leadership in the African American community finds itself waking up to its ills and attempting to address them by promoting healthy marriages and education for the purpose of making real long-lasting positive change. 

The efforts of organizations like the California State Healthy Marriage Initiative, Seattle African American Healthy Marriage Initiative, Wedded Bliss Inc. Foundation, etc.  who have sought only the good for their community’s with or without the use of federal funds or faith-based monies would seem to be focuses of applause rather than minimized and made targets of unfounded, muddled criticism, and personal biases. It is an unfortunate set of circumstances.

Don Lattin reported, Rev. Moon as the, “controversial Korean evangelist and self-proclaimed new world messiah” and that “according to the Unification Church teachings, the children born for these marriages are ‘blessed children,’ who, unlike the rest of humanity, are born without original sin.”  Let it be known, CSHMI as an organization does not hold to such teachings nor has it ever align itself with the teachings of the Unification Church. 

CSHMI evolved out of the Bay Area Healthy Marriage Initiative and was inspired by the marriage ministry in operation at the Chosen Vessels Christian Church.  CVCC launched a marriage education and marriage ministry in response to in-house issues the church began to encounter.  The very effective marriage education program established for it was what birthed the foundation of a Bay Area marriage movement. The intent of the organization was to provide not only programs to strengthen existing local church marriage ministries but to, in addition, offer community-based marriage education as well. Due to the various populations being serviced there was a need for greater training, more education for those who would be providing the service. 

During a conference held September 2004 in Philadelphia there was talk of an online Marriage Education degree program that provided the foundation necessary to introduce local Faith-based and Community-based leaders to marriage education.  Dr. Hauer happened to be the professor who created and designed the program.  After having learned of the program our organization approached her to discuss the possibility of leading an intensive seminar that would certify lay people in marriage education.  Dr. Hauer was brought on by CSHMI to provide a foundation for marriage education from the perspective of proven research, existing national programs, and documented statistics as they relate to marriage.  The seminar conducted on the 28^th of September by Dr. Hauer for the California State Healthy Marriage Initiative was not one of a faith-based nature, but community based. The responsibility of weaving the information garnered at the seminar into a context fitting for their faith-based organizations was on the part of the faith-based leaders themselves and clearly defined.

Dr. Hauer, a dynamic and dedicated teacher in the area of marriage education, is also alumna of the prestigious Harvard University.  Dr. Hauer’s affiliation with the Unification Church should not be intermingled with her work as a professional educator and speaker. She has conducted herself in a manner of professionalism and in no way does she attempt to proselytize or incorporate her religious beliefs within her curricula.  As Don Lattin reported Dr. Hauer as stating, “ I’m a professional. I don’t talk about my religion or my politics….my religion is not an issue.”

Faith-Based work does not equate to Christian-Based solely. CSHMI is a hybrid organization which incorporates both skilled faith-base and community-base approaches to marriage education. CSHMI is a 501 (c) (3) corporation with a diverse board of directors, none of whom belong to the Unification Church. CSHMI encourages diversity, allowing the participating organizations and clients in our inner cities to CHOOSE which approach will best suit their relationships, marriages and or families.

Lastly, Mr. Lattin reported the Chairman of CSHMI as having stated, “We had to settle for the University of Bridgeport…this is the last time we will be using them.”  To clarify this statement and place it in its proper context, common knowledge by both CSHMI and Dr. Hauer is the fact that the use of Dr. Hauer’s service, as well as the certification being issued by the University of Bridgeport, was a temporary establishment. Dr. Hauer was a consultant to CSHMI to provide an introduction to marriage education and a support in establishing a foundation for CSHMI leadership so we could conduct the seminars ourselves. We are presently talking with several California universities to develop a certification program in marriage education for both faith and community based leaders.

In closing, CSHMI stands firm on the premise – all marriages, relationships and families deserve equal access to education that will propel them towards more healthier and stable homes.  Children deserve the best proven structures possible.  For those attempting to provide this education it is very important they become educated in the field of marriage to avoid the blunder of assuming there is one way of handling a marriage or that marriage education equates with marriage ministry.

Finally, CSHMI goes on record to state, “If you are a Christian from Canada, a Muslim from Madrid, a Skeptic from Scandinavia, a Jehovah’s Witness from Jericho, a Mormon from Maui, an Atheist from Asian, an Agnostic from Africa, or a Unificist from the United States – we don’t care, what we care about is the health and stability of the family and we seek to educate all without bias because of their religious preference.  May God bless our understanding and bless us all!