Key Leaders

Austin Ruse, President, also serves as president for C-FAM and, according to a report from Population Connection, has been affiliated with the Population Research Institute (PRI). Ruse also established the International Organizations Research Group, an arm of C-FAM, though it has done relatively little work since its inception.

Ruse’s wife, Cathy Cleaver Ruse, has been a conservative leader in her own right. She has served as a spokesperson for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the Legal Director for the Family Research Council. She has no official ties to C-FAM.

Individuals of note include:

Mary Cunningham Agee, Vice Chairman. The outspoken Agee is also the President and Executive Director of the Nurturing Network. In the 1980’s, scores of magazines alleged an affair between her and then-boss, William Agee: "...a media frenzy ensued. Cunningham and Agee vehemently denied the rumors but married two years later.”

Ambassador Alan Keyes, Director. Keyes has run unsuccessfully for major public office five times: US President in 1996 and 2000, and US Senate in 1988, 1992, and 2004.

Steven Mosher, who is also president of the Population Research Institute. For more on Mosher, visit PRI’s profile.

Robert Royal, Vice Chairman. Royal leads the Faith and Reason Institute, which shares a D.C. address with CLF and C-FAM. He also serves as a Director for C-FAM.

Rev. C. John McCloskey III, STD, has been called “The Catholic Church’s K Street Lobbyist” by Slate.

Dr. Joel Brind, serves as an advisor and is known for his research alleging a connection between abortion and breast cancer.

Bowie Kuhn. Well-known as the former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Kuhn has various ties to the conservative Catholic anti-family planning movement.

Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Denver, Chaput is involved with many anti-abortion organizations including Priests for Life.