“Recognition Lets Us Actively Help Shape Society”

Emphasis on opportunity to help shape society and realize God’s plan for peace at commemoration of 10th anniversary of Unification Church obtaining state recognition in Austria

10 Years of Recognition Has Enabled Us to “Actively Contribute to the Realization of a Divine Plan for Peace”

Second part (final) of a speech by Peter Zoehrer, President of the Unification Church of Austria 2015-2025 and President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Austria from 2000 to 2017. It was delivered at the celebration on 4^th July 2025, of the 10th anniversary of the official recognition of the Unification Church in Austria. The event was held at the Family Federation headquarters in Vienna. 

See part 1: Struggle to Gain State Recognition for Faith

See also: 10 Years of Recognized Contribution to Society

(Continued from part 1)

Our voice counts, our commitment matters

Recognition has opened new doors for us and made it possible to actively help shape our society. We are represented on the Upper Austrian Religious Advisory Council and contribute constructively to projects such as the Interreligious Calendar and the brochure “Faith and Religion”. Since 2024, we have participated in the Interreligious Advisory Council of the City of Graz and have been actively involved in organizing events such as the Day of Religions.

We are also present in academia.

A significant milestone was the inclusion of the Unification Church [German: Vereinigungskirche] in the standard reference work “Religion in Austria”. At this point, I would like to express my deepest respect and thanks to Prof. Dr. Lukas Pokorny, head of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Vienna, and his team. Their academic work has been crucial in helping bring the Unification Movement out of the shadow of clichéd images and into a factual, scholarly discourse on an international level – one that is appropriate for a pluralistic society.

Our theological compass: One human family under God

At the heart of our faith is a comprehensive image of God: God as Father and Mother of all humanity.

This image of God creates identity beyond origin, gender, or culture. It is a call for unity, brotherhood, and mutual respect. It is the foundation of our deepest longing for a world of peace and harmony.

It is the foundation of our vision: One human family under God. Our founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, said:

“True religion begins where people are willing to live for the sake of others.”

This idea shapes our sense of responsibility: We must not passively wait for salvation but actively contribute to the realization of a divine plan for peace.

Dr. Hak Ja Han, who has led our movement for the past thirteen years since the passing of Rev. Moon, put it this way:

“Heaven calls us not only to believe, but to take responsibility for the future of humanity.”

International highlights in Vienna

Two major events in Vienna stand as symbols of our path into the heart of society:

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Unification Movement in Europe at the Vienna International Center in 2015, where Dr. Hak Ja Han emphasized the role of the United Nations and called for God to be included as the source of peace in global peacebuilding efforts.

And in 2018, the “Peace Starts With Me” mega-rally in the Wiener Stadthalle, featuring powerful gospel music and a speech by Dr. Hak Ja Han to over 10,000 participants from across Europe.

The core message of this event was: “World peace begins first in the family.”

In closing:

Ten years of recognition mean responsibility, commitment, and hope for us.

We thank all those who have walked this path with us – in administration, academia, civil society, and families. We thank all who have understood our vision or were willing to get to know it. And we thank God for His invisible guidance through visible hearts.

The dream of one human family under God is not just a vision, but our shared mission. Let us carry this dream forward together – with courage, humility, and unwavering joy.

Following my remarks, Mag. Elisabeth Cook, President of the Austrian Family Federation for World Peace [German: Familienföderation], will give you insight into the concrete projects and activities through which we are putting this vision into action. The Austrian Family Federation is our main organization and executive body, playing a key role in implementing our goals.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

See part 1: Struggle to Gain State Recognition for Faith

See also: 10 Years of Recognized Contribution to Society

Featured image above: The cover front page of the brochure for the celebration on 4^th July 2025, of the 10th anniversary of the official recognition of the Unification Church in Austria.

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