‘Moonie’ girl says she wants to stay in U.S.

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 4

‘Moonie’ girl says she wants to stay in U.S.

NZPA staff correspondent

Washington The “Moonie” tug-of-war victim, Miss Mary-Lee Hall, of Taranaki, said yesterday that the tussle between her family and the Unification Church was causing her “tremendous emotional stress."

A San Francisco Superior Court judge, Judge Ira Brown, has issued a writ of habeas corpus against the church and two of its leading figures, requiring them to bring Miss Hall to court on Wednesday. He threatened to jail the church’s United States director, Dr Mose Durst, and the church’s North. California acting director, Mr Matthew Morrison if they fail to produce her.

Miss Hall, aged 22, arrived in the United States eight months ago and soon joined the church, which is nicknamed after its founder, the Korean-born Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Last month Miss Hall’s mother, Mrs Lena Hall, and another daughter, Miss Anna-Lyn Hall, aged 20, arrived in San Francisco with an air ticket for her to return home, asserting that the “Moonies” had brainwashed her.

Miss Mary-Lee Hall said from New York yesterday that she would be guided on the court appearance by her lawyer, who plans to appeal, against the decision. Miss Hall said that she felt

the whole affair had been blown out of all proportion. She said, "It is a 'private family affair. It has become absolutely ridiculous: ’ it seems to be almost an international issue.” . Miss Hall said, that she was in the United States and with the Unification Church because that was her wish. So far as she was aware she had not violated any United States laws. She had a valid tourist visa and had not worked for any salary. The church took care of her material needs. As' in any religious community, any money she might earn went to the church. ’ Her work was in the mainstream of the body to which she belonged: C.A.R.P. or the Collegiate .Association for Research of .Principles. C.A.R.P. organises debates against liberal' university groups on communism, to which the “Moonies”. are strenuously opposed, and also holds rallies,' seminars, and protest marches. Miss Hall said she. felt that her. mother and sister were surrounded by such unreliable people in San Francisco that she doubted whether they could be influenced to meet her on neutral ground.

She had taken' the initiative when her mother and sister had arrived in San Francisco, while she was still there, by telephoning them at their hotel and suggesting an immediate meeting. Her sister had then said

that it would be “inconvenient” that night because she (her sister) was going out. and so she had arranged a later meeting. Her sister had .turned up for that meeting, “with a stranger” but the meeting had been a failure. She (Mary-Lee Hall) had been able to talk to her mother on the telephone at the start but it had become "a miracle” to be able to get through to her later. At times she" (Miss Hall) had been told that her mother was unavailable to speak to her. She had not spoken to her mother on the telephone now for two or three weeks. .

She felt that the best thing for her mother and sister, faced with “enormous expense,” would be to return to New Zealand.

She herself wanted to remain in the United States with the church. She wanted to return to New Zealand at some stage but for a visit only. '