Only the Christian Right Could Take Down the Family

And that does appear to be what is happening. Alerted to the existence of the secretive group by Jeff Sharlet's book and by the recent media reporting on the Family connections of several Washington politicians caught up in sex scandals, World Magazine has been doing its own reporting on the group. Right-wing politicians participating in sex scandals is nothing new, and would not particularly raise the ire or attention of Christian groups. Indeed Republicans seem to have no innate sense of hypocrisy when it comes to things like sex scandals, particularly when individuals who once called for Bill Clinton's resignation during the Monica Lewinsky scandal do not seem particularly inclined to do so when their own misconduct surfaces.

It is my opinion, having watched how these episodes unfold, that the Republican base does not particularly care whether or not Republican politicians maintain the same standards in their own lives as they advocate. In the book of Romans, Paul maintains that all have sinned and fallen short of grace. This provides a ready-made excuse: the temptations of the flesh are sometimes too much for even the most righteous of men. The only unforgivable sin in their eyes is to be the sort of person who thinks (as I do) that it isn't particularly the job of office-holders to advocate for or uphold a biblical morality. In short, the Republican voters don't care if you cheat, as long as you are still their man and you frame your apology in appropriately religious terms.

So what finally brings the Family to World's attention? It is, of course, the realization that this group does not really follow a mainstream theology at all. Some Christians may not agree with the Family that Jesus brought two messages, one for the common people and a secret message for the rich and powerful. The secretive nature of the Family has allowed its members to maintain the appearance of being religious people (they talk about God and Jesus a lot) while at the same time remaining outside of and unaccountable to any church. World writes that the Family is, "a 60-year-old, globally reaching organization that has muddy theology and a disdain for the established church."

The day of reckoning for the Family is finally here: more so than any amount of stink that I could raise the attention and questions of the larger religious right will be attention and questions that the Family cannot bear. I predict that soon we will begin to see a cascade effect as politicians begin to distance themselves from Doug Coe and his Christian Mafia bretheren. I'm specifically looking at you to get the ball rolling, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Florida Senator Bill Nelson.