The Family: C Street Group Tied To Proposed Uganda Law That Would Carry Death Penalty for Gays

Jon Ponder | November 25, 2009

With their reported $13 billion tax-exempt financial empire, the Mormons may be the wealthiest cult in America — and Scientology may be the big thing among the rich and powerful in Hollywood — but when it comes to political power neither of those sects holds a candle to The Family, the Christian extremist political group that operates the now infamous C Street house on Capitol Hill in Washington. Members of The Family have occupied seats in both houses of Congress going back to the 1930s.

For all but its most recent history, the hallmark of The Family has been secrecy. In the past year, however, three sex scandals involving highly placed members of the cult — Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C.; Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.; and Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss. — have thrust the group and its C Street house into the national spotlight.