Lund said Covey did give permission to use his name for a February awards ceremony but does not endorse the later Moon actions, nor does he consider Moon the Messiah. Stephenson said he did not give permission for use of his name for any Moon-group event.

Also, Cannon and Covey did not attend the March 23 dinner. Stephenson did (and even presented one of the peace awards given there) but said he walked out when it became more of a religious ceremony. He said he did not want his presence construed as support.

After Cannon, Stephenson and Covey were contacted for response by the Deseret Morning News, they all said they called Moon's organizations to complain about Jenkins' comments. That led to a written "clarification" later by Jenkins.

Jenkins said the three were on the "invitational committee" for a February awards dinner that was moved at the last minute off Capitol Hill because of a ricin scare. Cannon and Stephenson deny they were on such a committee, although they attended that dinner.

Jenkins said because the program and attendance were limited, a "second stage" of awards was scheduled for the next month at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

"Although we considered the March program a continuance of the awards process, and considered the invitational committee still in place, there was apparently confusion in the process of reorganizing, communicating and confirming effectively to all involved," Jenkins' clarification said.

"We believe that the broad, interreligious nature of the March 23rd event would not have been a cause for controversy had it not been misrepresented in the media," he said. "We certainly never implied any religious commitment or affiliation on the part of any of our invitational committee."

At the March 23 dinner, Moon said that in the spirit world, Marx, Lenin, Hitler and Stalin found strength in his teachings and have been reborn. He said they and saints proclaim that "Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent." He then received the crown and robes.

Jenkins said Wednesday, "I affirm that he is the Messiah, the Savior and returning Lord who was anointed by Jesus to fulfill that mission. The term 'Messiah' means anointed one, and it is an anointing that comes from Heaven. Therefore, Rev. Moon is not God and he is not Jesus, but a man anointed by God."

A variety of other Jewish, Christian and Muslim clergy appeared at the press conference to praise Moon — some also declaring him as the Messiah or a heaven-sent messenger — and said reports of the March 23 ceremony have been distorted. They said it mainly was to give awards to honor people from all 50 states who have been working for world peace.

Former Rep. Howard Nielsen, R-Utah, was among recipients. He too, however, has said he was surprised by Moon's comments and "coronation," and does not endorse them.

---

E-mail: lee@desnews.com