A national student group founded by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church, is recruiting members for a chapter at the College.

The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) is nominally a political student organization but holds the same religious beliefs as the Unification Church, Anthony J. Guerra, president of a CARP chapter established three weeks ago at the Divinity School, said Monday.

Guerra added, however, that CARP is not financially connected with the Unification Church, whose members are popularly known as "Moonies."

CARP has not yet asked for official standing in the college, Archie C. Epps III, dean of students, said yesterday.

CARP spokesmen said that since they began recruiting two weeks ago, "several" students have expressed interest in joining, but no students have formally become members.

CARP officials plan to request official University status when 10 students have joined their organization, Guerra said.

Several members of the CARP regional organizing staff are working full-time at the College on activities designed to recruit members, including leafleting and maintaining an exhibit at Phillips Brooks House.

The exhibit advertises the religious beliefs of the Unification Church. Guerra said it drew "substantial interest on campus."

An official at CARP's national headquarters in Washington said yesterday CARP chapters receive money from the Unification Church at times, but he declined comment on the extent of the grants.

While known as a political group, CARP espouses Moon's religious beliefs. Guerra said, adding that CARP has "not yet taken any political stands" this year.

At Boston University, students have questioned CARP's legitimacy as a student organization, especially its affiliation with the Unification Church, Ronald L. Carter, dean of student affairs at Boston University, said yesterday.

CARP registered as a student organization only three weeks ago, Carter added.

CARP runs 90 to 100 chapters nationwide.