(Unsurprisingly, IRD was, at the time, still promoting Tonkowich as an "expert" to the media.)

It should come as a surprise to no one that IRD's quarter century campaign to neutralize the social justice witness of the mainline churches has been largely underwritten (PDF) by the same conservative foundations that brought us such institutions as the Heritage Foundation, the neo-conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, and The American Spectator.  The churches had earned the ire of conservative interests through their principled and growing opposition to the excesses of American foreign and military  policies, as well as those of major corporations; and advocacy of the civil rights of African Americans, women and increasingly LGTBQ people.  Unsurprisingly, a coalition of rightist elements has sought for decades to displace the mainline churches from the center of American culture.

Early in his tenure, as president of IRD, Tonkowich published a revealing sneer in the neo-conservative magazine, The Weekly Standard (the executive editor of which, Fred Barnes, is and was a member of the IRD board.)

For those who are shocked by the crack-up of the Episcopal Church, let me explain:  The answer was on a T-shirt I saw last month while traveling to the Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly in Birmingham and the Episcopal Church General Convention in Columbus.  It read, "I'm Making It Up As I Go."  Exactly.

One of the differences between the historic Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church is that they are democratic institutions that elect their leaders and set their course through democratic processes.  Of course, the success of any democratic institution depends on people's commitment to democratic processes, and their respect for democratic outcomes.  But they are always also vulnerable to anti-democratic interests intent on undermining the integrity of both the process and the targeted institutions themselves.

IRD's sustained attack on the mainline churches has been led by outside interests including top American Catholic neo-conservatives.  They have certainly wreaked the havoc they sought:  Dividing denominations against themselves; pitting Christians against Christians, and contributing to the decline of these churches as a constructive presence in American public life.

The brazenness has sometimes been astounding, but that does not mean that IRD has been entirely oblivious that the role of prominent Roman Catholics in a campaign to "reform" Protestant churches, can be a sensitive matter.

In one remarkable episode the name of a Catholic convert named Dr. J. Budziszewski was quickly scrubbed from IRD web site following the 2006 expose by the late Methodist minister, Rev. Dr. Andrew Weaver et al on the role of prominent Catholic neo-cons at IRD. Budziszewski chaired the IRD board.  

One of the most troubling aspects of the IRD is that, while powerful figures in the right-wing of the Roman Catholic church have been among its leaders from its inception, there is no program, staff or budget for changing the Catholic church. The