Theocracy: are we there yet?

By Groff Schroeder

     Since at least 1974, a secretive religious group calling themselves “The Family,” “The Fellowship” and “The Christian Mafia” (the neighbors call them “pod people”[1]) quietly provided free room and board in a registered church[2] on C Street in Washington DC to countless Members of the United States Congress, apparently violating local laws, housing covenants and perhaps the US Constitution.  Allegedly, the only requirement for those holding positions of extreme public responsibility in return for their keep in The Fellowship’s church “home” is cult-like secrecy and – well, uh…it is a secret.

     No matter whom the alleged “spirit” leading, feeding and bedding our “representatives,” it appears to have low ethical standards, at least with respect to conflict of interest in an allegedly democratic society – and with whom it does business in less than democratic societies. “The Fellowship's “God-led men” have included General Suharto of Indonesia; Honduran general and death squad organizer Gustavo Alvarez Martinez; a Deutsche Bank official disgraced by financial ties to Hitler; and dictator Siad Barre of Somalia, plus a list of other generals and dictators.”[4] In 1974, Time listed Charles Colson, then recently convicted of obstruction of justice, Jeb Stuart Magruder and Gerald R. Ford (the new 38^th President of the United States) as being associated with “The Fellowship.”

    The Fellowship appears intent on advancing theocratic ideals, organizes the Presidential Prayer Breakfast and provides numerous benefits to American public servants under apparent conflicts of interest. The Fellowship seems to think those with money or political power have been “chosen by God,” and that they therefore need not follow the rules (i.e. laws) everyone else follows (except the secret “Fellowship” rules of course).

     Repeated sex scandals involving The Fellowship recently forced press reports upon “C Street.” Breathlessly reporting on extramarital affairs, most American reporters appeared to studiously ignore an apparent mountain of evidence suggesting a well-organized and funded strategic plan to (at least) infiltrate (and perhaps) compromise the United States government.  Apparently, ensuring that Members of Congress maintain a wholesome sex life is more critical to the maintenance of democracy and freedom than exposing widespread membership in a bizarre cult-like theocratic secret society. Nothing distracts the People like sex, and this distraction appeared just in time to wash the stunning news that former Vice President Richard B. Cheney apparently operated his own private CIA assassination squad from the American “news cycle.”

     Perhaps thousands of Representatives of the People of the United States and government big shots are members of The Fellowship. Imagine the public indignation that might follow reports of American unions operating a secret “home,” providing US Representatives with room, board and “organizing.”  In contrast, it appears few people seem concerned with the theocratic goals of the “The Christian Mafia” or their apparently thorough infiltration into US and other governments. Many Americans even appear to look forward to theocracy in the United States, perhaps basing their anticipation upon how well theocracy has worked out in other nations – like Afghanistan and Iran.

[1] Madsen, Wayne,  EXPOSÉ: THE “CHRISTIAN” MAFIA - Where Those Who Now Run the U.S. Government Came From and Where They Are Taking Us, February 3, 2005, http://www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia.htm, retrieved July 18, 2009. 

[2] Tapley, Lance, Does John Baldacci belong to a secretive, powerful, conservative Christian group?, http://www.portlandphoenix.com/features/top/ts_multi/documents/02877355.asp, retrieved July 18, 2009. 

[3] Usher, Tom, March 28, 2008, The Family, Doug Coe, Hillary Clinton et.al., http://www.realliberalchristianchurch.org/wordpress/2008/03/28/the-fellowship-the-family-doug-coe-hillary-clinton-et-al.html accessed July 18, 2009.

[4] Usher, Tom, March 28, 2008, The Family, Doug Coe, Hillary Clinton et.al., http://www.realliberalchristianchurch.org/wordpress/2008/03/28/the-fellowship-the-family-doug-coe-hillary-clinton-et-al.html accessed July 18, 2009.