Evangelical leader James Dobson steps down from Focus on the Family
Friday, February 27, 2009 at 3:43 pm
- 7 Comments
Considered by many to be the nation’s most influential evangelical leader, Focus on the Family’s James Dobson is stepping down after founding the organization more than 30 years ago. The Associated Press learned on Friday that Dobson would be relinquishing his spot as chairman of the evangelical Christian organization, based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dobson will continue to host his “traditional values” radio program.
His resignation has prompted a flurry of press releases from church-state-separation groups and LGBT advocacy organizations.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State:
James Dobson’s decision to resign as chairman of Focus on the Family is unlikely to make much of a difference in the day-to-day operations of that organization. … For years, FOF has been the leading voice of religious extremism and intolerance in America. It has led the attack on the legal rights of gay and lesbian Americans, worked assiduously to undermine reproductive rights, assaulted the religious neutrality of public schools and labored to replace science with far-right, fundamentalist dogma.
Despite my differences with him, if Dobson were truly retiring, I would wish him well. But I know that Dobson and so many other leaders of the Religious Right intend to remain active, working to force their exclusionary worldview onto the rest of us.
Focus on the Family is merely rearranging the deck chairs on its big, intolerant ship.
People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert:
James Dobson may be stepping down, but he’s not stepping off the field. Dobson will continue hosting his national radio show and pushing his far right agenda under the cover of folksy advice.
Dobson has built an audience for himself in the millions and a series of organizations that pull in tens of millions of dollars each year. He presents himself as an expert on raising kids, but his real passion is for enacting the policies of the Religious Right.
Dobson and Focus on the Family fervently support failed abstinence-only sex ed programs, destructive bans on same-sex marriage and adoption, and efforts to undermine fundamental constitutional rights like privacy and church-state separation. Regardless of where Dobson appears on the organizational chart, he and Focus on the Family will continue their assault on Americans’ liberties.
Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation:
“For more than 20 years, James Dobson has used his expansive, well-funded media platform to promote defamatory and false information about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. “As Dobson resigns from his role as chairman, it is important to remember his history of false and defamatory claims about our community. GLAAD urges the media to not allow Dobson to turn today’s news into yet another media platform for him to advance his intolerant divisive attacks on gay and lesbian Americans and their families.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter7 Comments
Comment posted February 27, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
It’s about time he left. The last thing the Church needs is someone who thinks Jesus doesn’t care about the sick, the poor, the hungry or the outsider. The ministry of Jesus was focused on helping those in need. Dobson’s focus has been apologizing for the rich and powerful that want to eliminate or cut programs for the sick, the poor and the hungry. In his mind the conservative Republicans that want tax cuts for Donald Trump and Paris Hilton are the good guys and the Democrats that want to be sure the widows and orphans have food are the bad guys. People like Dobson make me embarrassed to say I’m an evangelical. I explain it by saying that when Jesus said feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the sick, it wasn’t the metaphor that Dobson thinks it is. Jesus really meant it!
Comment posted February 27, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
Is there another Colorado, meth-fueled, male-prostitute scandal brewing?
Comment posted February 28, 2009 @ 11:42 am
You know Tom, normally, i just let stupid things like that posting of yours roll off my back. But this time you and your liberal friends have struck a chord, and the record needs to be set straight. I live in Colorado Springs – about 5 miles from the Focus on the Family complex. Never was there an organization that works harder to help out those in need than does Focus. They are relentlessly gathering and dispensing donations, they are continually striving to feed the hungry, or help the poor. I’m not a member of Focus, but I’m keenly aware of the good they do. That’s information Tom that you are clearly lacking.
The big emphasis that seems to rile so many on the left is that Focus on the Family does exactly that – they focus on the family. They do not advocate the killing of fetuses in utero simply because they would be a hassle for the mothers carrying them. They strongly advocate parents taking responsibility – and not pushing their burdens on the state. And yes, they emphasize Christian values – not left-wing political talking points.
Comment posted February 28, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
The sooner this evil sicko disappears from the public eye the better. Dobson is a hateful person who’s misguided “advice” has resulted in tragedy numerous times.
Comment posted February 28, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Bill,
You forgot to mention they also advocate Christian and family-oriented activities like asking their members to pray for inclement weather during the outdoor rally at the Democratic National Convention.
At least this disgraceful and dishonorable show was enough to convince my parents to stop donating to them!
Comment posted February 28, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Bill, you may be right, but my church and many other churches throughout the country do these things too. That’s what we are called to do as Christians. What Focus on the family and especially Dobson will be remembered for is not this but in making “Christian” foul word among many unbelievers and politicizing Christianity in this country. To be a Christian for many people has come to mean embracing the discredited and failed ideas of the right wing and the Republican Party and the meanness, nastiness and ugliness which has scarred our political discourse for the past 10-15 years. Dobson took a lot of the credit and he deserve a lot of the blame. Good riddance and Happy retirement I say.
Comment posted March 2, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Bill,
Here are few additional people who have been noted for doing wonderful work for charities and the needy:
Tom Petters
Bernie Madoff
Arthur Nadal
Jack Abrimoff
Allen Stanford
In fact, con men know that philanthropy is one of the key pillars of building trust among the marks.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
