[UUA-L] UUA President Rev. Peter Morales Announces UUA/UUSC Japan Relief Fund

[Unitarian Universalist Association]

The Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA), has released a statement regarding Friday's
devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis in Japan. This statement
also is available online at http://tinyurl.com/uuajapanstatement.

"As the news from Japan worsens, I send my heartfelt sympathies to all
those struggling to cope with this terrible disaster.

"As UUA president, I traveled to Japan last August to meet with our
religious partners there. The warm hospitality offered to my wife,
Phyllis, and me left us with a beautiful and lasting impression of their
country and culture. My heart goes out to the people of Japan for what
they are enduring now.

"As soon as the UUA received word of the tragedies of Friday, March 11,
we reached out to our religious partners in Japan: Rissho Kosei-kai,
Tsubaki Grand Shrine, the Konko Church of Izuo, the Tokyo Dojin Church,
and the Japan Chapter of the International Association for Religious
Freedom. We have worked in close partnership with these outstanding
organizations for many decades, and have been in contact with them since
Friday. I can only imagine the overwhelming sadness and fear they are
experiencing, even as they try to determine their next steps.

"To this end, the UUA/UUSC Japan Relief Fund has been established to
support the recovery efforts of our religious partners in Japan, as they
consider the specific efforts to take to support the work of recovery. I
encourage anyone wishing to contribute to this crucial effort to read
more about the UUA/UUSC Japan Relief Fund at
http://tinyurl.com/uuajapanrelief.

"For several months, the Rev. Eric Cherry, the UUA's Director of
International Resources, has had a trip to Japan scheduled for later
this month. The situation on the ground is still extremely volatile, but
as I write this, Eric intends to make the trip if at all possible. If he
is able to make the journey, he will convey my sincere condolences and
profound hope for swift recovery on behalf of the entire Unitarian
Universalist Association.

"We at the UUA will hold the country of Japan in our hearts, as we work
to support them in their time of great need."