FFWPU USA President's Letter Regarding Tongil Mark Case
Dear Family,
Thank you all for your ardent prayers and efforts to further Heavenly Parent and True Parents providence in America. I would like to give you an update on a recent development in the trademark case involving the Tongil Mark.
In 2018, Family Federation brought a lawsuit against Sanctuary Church to stop its unauthorized use of the Tongil Mark created by True Parents. The Tongil Mark is a registered trademark of Family Federation. Last week, federal judge Jennifer Wilson dismissed that lawsuit on First Amendment grounds. Judge Wilson did not grant the motions requested by either party. Instead, she ruled that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the case because it involved a religious dispute.
The decision to initiate this lawsuit was made prayerfully and reluctantly. Initially, we had hoped to resolve this matter privately by sending direct requests to Sanctuary Church to discontinue using the Tongil Mark to promote itself because of the confusion that such use was creating. But Sanctuary refused. The confusion was compounded when the media began to publish photos of Sanctuary’s “marriage commitment” ceremonies, which were not authorized by True Parents. At those ceremonies, guns and bullets were displayed with the Tongil Mark. It was clear that journalists and members of the public were confusing Sanctuary as the “Unification Church”. At that point, we concluded that it was necessary to take legal action to protect True Parents’ legacy of peace and unification.
While this dismissal would mean that we cannot prevent Sanctuary’s use of the Tongil Mark, it does not change the fact that we continue to hold stewardship of the registered trademark our True Parents created.
As we consult and evaluate any next steps, we would like to suggest that we take time to reflect on how we can best apply the Divine Principle in a way to foster greater peace and unity. And let us continue to pray for the healing of Hyungjin “Sean” Moon’s heart, so that he and his members may one day reconcile with True Mother.
May God Bless you and your family,
Rev. Naokimi Ushiroda
President