Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 13:01:29 -0500
To: FreeUrantia@cuenet.com, UBtalk@Utalk.org
From: "Larry Mullins" <LAWRENCEOFDENVER@worldnet.att.net>
Cc: urantian@concentric.net, LAWRENCEOFDENVER@worldnet.att.net,
mlt@linkzone.com, Keeler <rkeeler@allwest.net>,
Choi <kchoi@iastate.edu>, du Pont <gdupont@isp.fr>,
Siegel <msiegel@ctea.com>, Jameson <gjameson@pbtk.com>
Subject: FreeUrantia: ON PEACE, VALUES, AND THE STEADFASTNESS OF MO, MARY AND KRISTEN
MO SIEGEL WROTE, MARCH 1991:
"As devoted believers in the revelation, we can only pray the Trustees have been making unintentional errors answering the authorship question. NOTHING could destroy the revelation's long-term success quicker than the original publisher giving sworn court testimony that The Urantia Book was authored by human sources. Imagine how discredited the revelation would appear when church leaders gave their congregations copies of Urantia Foundation's disclosures on authorship."
Kisten and Eric attend many local affairs, and they courageously came to the meeting with the Trustees in Boulder - where they presented a position on the Foundation's duplicity that was very close to Mo's statement above. They did this for the benefit of the community, and for the Revelation. This was very difficult to do. Yet, Mary Ebben recently wrote that Kisten and Eric have abandoned the Urantia community, whatever that may mean. The truth is that Kristen and Eric have not abandoned anyone. Their priorities happen to be different. Primarily, they are loyal to the Revelation, and steadfast in supporting it.
But the most blatant new falsehood is the one that Kristen simply spurned an offer of "peace" from the Foundation.
I was there, when Georges publicly offered to "license" Kristen and finance her outreach activities - provided she capitulate her legal position. She politely refused. The reason she refused is based purely upon her values. If Kristen agreed, she would, in effect, be abandoning her and Eric's stand that the Papers were NOT co-authored by the Forum, and that Urantia Foundation no longer holds moral, spiritual, nor even commercial control over the Fifth Epochal Revelation. The evidence of Urantia Foundation's failure and default is vast, and we have all seen the laundry list many times. Most of the folks who were there understood Kristen's position, and many have clearly said so.
Yet, Kristen and Eric really said nothing new that evening. They have stood steadfast against the Foundation sophistry that, in the name of unity, they should abandon the bastion they have been loyal in holding for so long. Kristen and Eric refused to about-face and suddenly acknowledge that Urantia Foundation has the power to control and license a Revelation that UF admits "belongs to the people". On the evening we met with Urantia Foundation, Georges Michelson-Dupont got applause when he acknowledged the truth that the "Revelation belongs to the people." Yet, the rhetoric was just that, nothing changes. The reality is: UF believes the Revelation belongs to them.
Even so, we must acknowledge that Mary has also been steadfast over the years, steadfast in her support for Mo.
The problem is Mo has been steadfast only in taking whatever position served his own ends and agenda at the time. Mary supported Mo when he ran around getting opinions on the covers he was preparing for the Fellowship printing of the Urantia Book. This was the publication that the man who "always supported the copyright" voted in favor of printing. Mo was helping the General Council of the Fellowship to prepare this printing not so long ago. Mary was also steadfast in supporting Mo when he explained, a few years ago, his reasons for not joining the IUA: (March 1991)
MO SIEGEL WROTE:
"During the last three years the authenticity of The Urantia Book has been put into question three times by the Trustees charged with the book's protection. These instances were:
"A. In the files of U.S. District Court on July 26, 1998, Urantia Foundation, when asked to respond to the following statement in paragraph 10, 'The Urantia Book is the fifth epochal revelation to the planet, Urantia, also known as the planet Earth.' Answered, 'Plantiff is without knowledge or information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 10 of the defendant's counterclaim and therefore denies the same . . .' When asked to respond if the book was written by divine beings they also responded not to confirm or deny therefore they denied."
MO SIEGEL CONTINUES:
"B. In 1989 and 1990, Bowkers 'Books in Print,' the foremost listing of published books in the United States, noted the Urantia Foundation staff as the author of The Urantia Book. When 'Books in Print' was contacted, they furnished the name of the individual within Urantia Foundation who instructed Bowkers to list the "staff" as The Urantia Book author.
"C. In the U.S. District Court on March 15, 1991, with Marty Meyers in the room, Urantia Foundation lawyers testified: 'The Urantia Book is a work for hire.' 'There was a Trustee of Urantia Foundation, William Sadler, Jr., not Sr., who wrote, authored, however you want to look at it, parts of The Urantia Book.'
IT IS WORTH REPEATING WHAT MO SIEGEL WROTE NEXT: (HIS EMPHASIS):
"As devoted believers in the revelation, we can only pray the Trustees have been making unintentional errors answering the authorship question. NOTHING could destroy the revelation's long-term success quicker than the original publisher giving sworn court testimony that The Urantia Book was authored by human sources. Imagine how discredited the revelation would appear when church leaders gave their congregations copies of Urantia Foundation's disclosures on authorship."
Mo NOW defends Urantia Foundation Court positions; positions that they have used to attempt to maintain control of their fraudulent, mangled and confusing copyright claims. The current court position is the most damaging position they have ever taken. Mo supports it, and now says the Forum helped author the book by "asking questions." Mo, that means over 400 human beings were involved, according to the UF History. That's a lot of "human" "co-authors." Isn't that a big "camel" to casually swallow while you are choking on a gnat? As a "devoted believer in the revelation" did you discover Urantia Foundation is "making unintentional errors answering the authorship question"? If so, why do you not straighten them out, instead of joining them?
A NEW CHALLENGE, WHAT WILL MO DO?
It is rumored that very soon the copyright will be challenged again. This time the challenge will be by a formidable opponent who has not only the will, but the resources to break the copyright once and for all.
The question is: What will Mo's position be? I have heard Mo's position will be to: "Grant him a license, whether he want it or not." (?) What if he refuses your license, Mo, as Kristen did? What if he will not print your "copyright" line?
Mo: If you grant him a license "Whether he wants it or not", why not grant Kristen a license "Whether she wants it or not?" Such an action would reflect a new consistency in philosophy, and demonstrate a value known as integrity. Why advocate that UF unilaterally grant a license in the case of a well-financed challenger, and yet also support the denial of one to Kristen?
Indeed, would not granting a license to Kristen (whether she wanted it or not) settle everything? Are you going to tell us your hands are tied by attorneys? You have surely discussed with attorneys the impending publication by a friend of yours. Do your attorneys support granting a license to him, and not to Kristen?
Much love,
LARRY MULLINS