PRINTER'S NO. 3200
No. 225 Session of 1978
INTRODUCED BY GOEBEL, MAY 22, 1978
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 22, 1978
In the House of Representatives, May 22, 1978
1 WHEREAS, It is alleged that The Spirit Association for the
2 Unification of World Christianity, also known as the Unification
3 Church, utilizes improper mind control techniques in its
4 recruitment and subsequent retention of members, who are
5 commonly referred to as "Moonies"; and
6 WHEREAS, It is important to ascertain whether or not the
7 Unification Church or any other entity in this Commonwealth
8 recruits and/or retains its membership by way of techniques
9 which undermine voluntary consent, involve the use of duress,
10 interfere with free will or otherwise involve improper mind
11 control practices; and
12 WHEREAS, It is necessary to determine whether the parents of
13 individuals who have become members of the Unification Church,
14 and who are commonly referred to as "Moonies", or other entities
15 employing similar recruitment and/or membership retention
16 practices have adequate remedy under existing law to ascertain
17 whether or not such initial or continued membership is voluntary
18 and not the result of improper mind control techniques or other
1 forms of duress; and
2 WHEREAS, It is alleged that the Unification Church has
3 engaged in improper and misleading fund-raising practices and
4 that such deceptive fund-raising is facilitated by its alleged
5 status as a religious organization; and
6 WHEREAS, It is necessary to determine whether the fund-
7 raising practices of the Unification Church are improper and
8 misleading and, if so, whether existing law adequately regulates
9 or prohibits such conduct; therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
11 appoint a select committee consisting of seven members, four
12 from the majority party and three from the minority party, to
13 study, investigate and report to the House on the recruitment
14 and membership retention techniques and fund-raising practices
15 of the Unification Church alluded to in the foregoing and the
16 possible need for remedial legislation; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That such select committee shall not conduct its
18 study or investigation so as to in any manner interfere with the
19 free exercise of religion and religious beliefs by members of
20 the Unification Church (commonly referred to as "Moonies") or by
21 any other entity; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
23 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it
24 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal
25 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to
26 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
27 by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
28 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
29 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
30 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
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1 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
2 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents,
3 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
4 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
5 have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
6 appearing before the committee; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That within thirty calendar days after the
8 committee has made its report, the chairman of the committee
9 shall cause a record of all expenses incurred by the committee,
10 or the members thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth
11 expense, to be filed with the Speaker of the House and the
12 Speaker shall cause the same to be entered into the journal
13 thereof. No expenses incurred by the committee or any member
14 thereof shall be reimbursable by the Chief Clerk unless such
15 expense shall first have been included as an expense item in the
16 record heretofore required; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings,
18 together with its recommendations for appropriate legislation or
19 otherwise, to the General Assembly as soon as its study is
20 completed.
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