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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Americans United for Separation of Church and State (202) 466-3234 |
Americans United Issues Statement on Resignation of James Dobson as Focus on the Family Chairman
Watchdog Group Vows to Continue Opposing Narrow Vision of the Religious Right
WASHINGTON - February 27 - Dr. James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, announced today that he is stepping down as chairman of that organization.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, issued the following statement:
"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. Dobson intends to continue his daily radio program and monthly mailings. He has also said he will keep handing out political endorsements. Many who listen to Dobson's daily radio broadcast may not even be aware of this change.
"Focus on the Family is merely rearranging the deck chairs on its big, intolerant ship.
"I do not expect this change to mean we will see any moderation in the rhetoric of Focus on the Family or its arm in Washington, the Family Research Council. 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.
"James Dobson's vision of America is of a divisive and narrow-minded nation, a country where an exceedingly limited version of Christianity - the type hewn to by Dobson and his followers - is welded to the raw power of the state. In his misguided quest for an officially ‘Christian America,' Dobson would trample on the rights of millions. I am thankful that so many Americans reject Dobson's disturbing vision.
"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.
"For that reason, I vow that Americans United will continue to strongly oppose the agenda of Dobson and Focus on the Family no matter what title he uses."
3 Comments so far
Show AllThe statement says that the Washington arm of Focus On The Family is the Family Research Council. I know James Dobson was instrumental in setting up that organization, but what is Focus' influence there now? Why did FoF have to bring about the new setup of Focus On The Family Action if they had the FRC as their Washington (strong) arm?
That question being asked, I see Dobson stepping down as chairman of Focus On The Family as a wholly good Thing. As personality ministries lose their charismatic leaders to retirement ( forced or otherwise ) I see the influence of organizations like Focus On The Family as rapidly declining.
See Robert Schuller, D.James Kennedy, Jerry Falwell and Richard Roberts as examples of my argument.
Where is Kennedy's organization for creating "Christian Statesmen" in Washington now?
All we need is Dobson to stop his radio broadcasts and I guarantee that the whole FoF edifice will crumble and disappear from our national discourse.
It must be really galling to Dobson to realize that what he has preached for 30+ years will ultimately all have been for naught. And also to realize that when he stands before his God to give an account of his life that the Baby Jesus will say to him that "Love the sinner, hate the sin" are truly weasel words and that he will have to answer for them for all eternity.
The American Taliban's bin Laden retires to a cave with a radio station?
"The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, issued the following statement:"
Religious organizations across the USA should not be participating in DHS government funded community watch groups that practice Gang Stalking Warrant Less surveillance torture on innocent Americans.
Religious Participants in this reckless voluntary behavior are contributing to the destruction of the Constitution.They are willing to sacrifice the 4th amendment while not understanding that government is recruiting them so they can destroy the the 1st amendment. Organized religion is governments friend today and their enemy tomorrow.
Fools , all of you.
Warrant Less Surveillance plus Torture equals Anti-American Unconstitutional Sin.
BornFreeMen
Born again secular patriot due to Right Wing Republican Christian Warrant Surveillance Torture.Bradenton Florida. Over 2 years of 24/7 Torture.