Free Republic

Here's the Associated Press story. It says there's no hint of anything untoward behind the move. The 72-year-old founder of the conservative evangelical group "will continue to host Focus on the Family's flagship radio program, write a monthly newsletter and speak out on moral issues." Focus on the Family says Dobson's resignation as chairman "lessens his administrative burden" and is the latest step in a succession plan that he put in place six years ago, when he stepped down as president and CEO.

Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago.

Dobson Resigns as Chairman of Focus on the Family By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS February 27, 2009 DENVER (AP) -- Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago, The Associated Press has learned. Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning at a weekly worship service, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer. Dobson, 72, will continue to host Focus...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. » A Colorado Springs-based evangelical group spent more than three times the amount spent by the Mormon church to support a California ballot initiative that outlawed gay marriage. Data released this week by the California secretary of state's office show Focus on the Family donated $657,000 in money and services to ProtectMarriage.com, a California coalition that supported Proposition 8. A September report indicated Focus on the Family had contributed $448,406. Focus vice president of media relations Gary Schneeberger says the most recent figure includes the value of non-cash contributions such as mailing costs and time on radio...

Conservative ministry Focus on the Family has removed from its website an article about the latest book (The Christmas Sweater) by former CNN host Glenn Beck in response to complaints over his Mormon ties. Even though the book has no mention of his faith, the campaign against him and his book is ongoing by Evangelicals. “Mr. Beck is a member of the Mormon church, and … we did not make mention of this fact in our interview with him,” reads a statement prepared for the ministry’s receptionists, according to Joel Campbell, the Mormon media observer for the MormonTimes. “We do...

Early in November, the popular online dating company eHarmony settled with the New Jersey Attorney General's Division on Civil Rights (DCR) over allegations that the company violated the state's anti-discrimination law by limiting its matching service to heterosexual couples. In 2005, gay New Jersey resident Eric McKinley had filed a complaint with the state, and in July 2007 the director of the DCR issued a finding of probable cause that eHarmony had violated the statute. In the face of mounting legal costs and the risk of crippling civil and administrative liabilities--stemming not only from the New Jersey investigation but other...

When Focus on the Family recently announced the deepest job cuts in its 32-year history, it was just the latest headline in a saga of a sad economy. After all, layoffs are seemingly the norm in a recession where unemployment is at a 15-year high. But supporters and critics of the Colorado Springs-based Christian ministry have been quick to question whether more is at play than hard times alone. Has its high-profile political stances hurt its public relations? Is its audience aging or shrinking? Did it reach a peak that, for some reason, has passed? Based on numbers, Focus' situation...

(Ceremony also included a protest of Dr. Dobson)Some of radio’s best gathered for the National Radio Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday night. If I start name-dropping – beyond the inductees who where there, like Art Bell, Howie Carr, Dr. James Dobson, Mickey Luckoff, Charlie Tuna – I’ll have to leave a lot of people out. So let me just paraphrase the classy remark of KGO/KSFO, San Francisco Mickey Luckoff – he just hopes he’s been as good to radio as radio’s been to him. Truth is, radio’s been good to the entire roomful of people at Chicago’s Renaissance Hotel, including...

So, President Bush throws $2.2 billion down the Planned Parenthood rathole and I'm supposed to thank him for not wasting the federal tax dollars of pro-life taxpayers? Well, yes, that's what the folks at Focus On The Family want me and others to do. The October 2008 issue of Citizen magazine has in it (page 6) a full-page article with the headline: "Thanks, Mr. President." A smaller headline reads: "Pro-life taxpayers can thank President Bush for keeping their dollars from being misspent." This article is an interview with Ashley Horne, a "federal policy analyst" for Focus On The Family Action.

The evangelical movement is fearful on many fronts, Mark Hennessy discovers in Colorado Springs QUIETLY SPOKEN, religiously and politically conservative, and living in the heartland of evangelical Christianity in the US, Daniel Lopez pondered the end of time that could come if Barack Obama becomes president. "When I think of it, it brings to mind the prophecies that the Bible tells us about," said Lopez, sitting in the shade outside Focus on the Family's headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "On the one hand, it is exciting for us as conservatives because we can actually see what God prophesied coming about;...

What would America look like after four years of an Obama administration? "Hardship," "persecution" and "suffering" are among the prospects in a hypothetical letter from a "Christian from 2012" released today by evangelical leader James Dobson's political activist group Focus on the Family Action. Titled "Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America," the piece clearly targets the many evangelical Christians seeking "change," particularly the young, who could tip the election in favor of the Illinois Democrat . At the end of the letter, the fictional Christian laments that these people "simply did not realize Obama's far-left agenda would take away many...

Amid a blizzard of disheartening polls a month out from the general election, the John McCain-Sarah Palin Republican ticket got some great news this afternoon: A clear go-ahead signal to millions of evangelicals across the country from Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman of FocDr James Dobson founder and chairman of Focus on the Family who radio program and newsletters reach millions of evangelicals approves a vote for the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palinus on the Family, to vote for the GOP ticket. It couldn't have come at a better time given more polls showing a Democratic...

Dr. James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family issued the following statement: "In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their...

Dr. James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family issued the following statement: "In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their...

<p>"In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered > prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of > parents and children in the same situation the Palins find themselves > in. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their > children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies > through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. > That is what the Palins are doing and they should be commended for > once again not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family > values, but in living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances. > > "Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean that > your children are perfect. But it does mean that there is forgiveness > and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've > been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own > life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have." > > "The media is already trying to spin this as evidence that Gov. Palin > is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. > They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans."</p>

Call it the Palin effect -- John McCain's choice of Alaska's governor Sarah Palin has motivated many conservatives previously reluctant to support his candidacy to surrender their enthusiastic support. Notably among them is Dr. James Dobson, the very influential conservative leader, who heads the nationwide Focus on the Family organization. Dr. Dobson, who has flatly declared that he would not vote for McCain now says he will, and attributes his change of mind to the senator's choice of solidly conservative pro-life Gov. Palin to be his running mate. Earlier this year, Dr. Dobson had announced on the nationally syndicated “The...

Earlier this year Dr. Jim Dobson, President of Focus on the Family made news when he announced on “The Dennis Prager Show” that he “cannot and will not vote for Senator John McCain.” Today, on The Dennis Prager Show, the conservative leader changed course and announced his enthusiastic support on the heels of the announcement by Senator McCain of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Dennis Prager: I have a guest here who’s extremely significant in American life, whether you call it American political, certainly American religious life, one of the best known Christians in America—...

  Dr. James Dobson: McCain’s Choice of Palin 'Outstanding'   Focus Action founder cites 'bravery and integrity' of Alaska governor Colorado Springs, Colo. – Focus on the Family Action founder and chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement today after learning that Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, had selected Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate:“Sen. McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an outstanding choice that should be extremely reassuring to the conservative base of his party. She is a strong executive who hates corruption and puts principle above politics.  After floating the...

New video feature will zero in on the issues and events - an online video series to keep you up to date on the election. Host Stuart Shepard gets insights on the presidential race from Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy at Focus Action. Family advocates from across the nation will appear in upcoming episodes. "This is a challenging year for Christian conservatives to sort through where the leading candidates stand on pro-family issues," Shepard said. "We'll cut through the hype and the campaign ads and shine a light on how they view the sanctity of...

A Christian fundamentalist group is praying for a deluge to drown out Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in two weeks' time. Focus on the Family is asking for "abundant, torrential" downpours to flood Denver and silence Senator Obama when he accepts the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on August 28....