That was over twenty years ago and - as Gorenfeld notes - Moon has since dumped over 3 billion dollars into the Washington Times newspaper though the paper has consistently failed to turn a profit.

Despite its central role in bankrolling the American Christian right the Unification Church has received little sustained scrutiny, nor has its influence in American politics been given much media treatment despite such striking evidence as this footage - again found by Gorenfeld - of President George W. Bush Sr. and first lady Barbara Bush at a public birthday party for Sun Myung Moon's wife.

That display of Moon's Washington connections pales in comparison to the now notorious 2004 incident in which Sun Myung Moon was "coronated" as "the messiah", in the Dirksen US federal office building, during a ceremony attended by as many as ( claims the Unification Church ) 81 members of the US Congress.

[ excerpt from Moon's speech ] "The five great saints and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even Communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin, who committed all manner of barbarity and murders on earth, and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons. Emperors, kings and presidents who enjoyed opulence and power on earth, and even journalists who had worldwide fame, have now placed themselves at the forefront of the column of the true love revolution. Together they have sent to earth a resolution expressing their determination in the light of my teaching of the true family ideal. They have declared to all Heaven and Earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent. This resolution has been announced on every corner of the globe."

John Gorenfeld has given extensive coverage to the bizzare incident that has been given spotty ( at best ) mainstream media notice.

For a good, brief overview of the dubious financial dealings of the Unification Church, and its influence on US politics, see this recent post on the Daily Kos by contributor "moonboots".