Focus Clarifies Dr. Dobson's Comments on Sen. Thompson

U.S. News story mischaracterized ministry founder's views on possible

presidential candidates

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Focus on
 the Family issued the following statement today regarding a story that
 appeared Wednesday on the U.S. News & World Report Web site quoting the
 ministry's founder and chairman, James C. Dobson, Ph.D:
     "We welcome the opportunity to clarify Dr. Dobson's remarks that were
 first reported in Dan Gilgoff's online article titled 'Dobson Offers
 Insight on 2008 Republican Hopefuls: Focus on the Family Founder Snubs
 Thompson, Praises Gingrich.' At the outset, it's important to note that
 this headline is an outright mischaracterization of the views Dr. Dobson
 expressed. His words weren't intended to represent either an endorsement of
 former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich or a disparagement of former Sen.
 Fred Thompson. Dr. Dobson appreciates Sen. Thompson's solid, pro-family
 voting record and his position that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided.
     "In his conversation with Mr. Gilgoff, Dr. Dobson was attempting to
 highlight that to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Thompson hadn't clearly
 communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might
 find this a barrier to supporting him. Dr. Dobson told Mr. Gilgoff he had
 never met Sen. Thompson and wasn't certain that his understanding of the
 former senator's religious convictions was accurate. Unfortunately, these
 qualifiers weren't reported by Mr. Gilgoff. We were, however, pleased to
 learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer.
     "With regard to Mr. Gingrich, while Dr. Dobson spoke positively about
 his intelligence and his ability to articulate conservative values, he
 expressed concern about the former speaker's past moral failures. You may
 be aware that Mr. Gingrich recently appeared on a Focus on the Family
 broadcast to discuss America's Christian heritage and the threat posed by
 radical Islam. Prior to the interview, Dr. Dobson asked Mr. Gingrich if
 he'd be willing to talk about his family life on the air because he felt
 our friends deserved an explanation. Those who listened to the exchange
 heard nothing indicating that Dr. Dobson excused Mr. Gingrich's past
 indiscretions. The former speaker was offered a chance to address the
 subject openly and honestly, and he did so, stating, 'I have turned to God
 and have gotten on my knees ... and sought God's forgiveness.' Dr. Dobson
 firmly believes that Scripture teaches there is redemption available
 through Christ for those who confess their sins -- were it not so, we'd all
 be in a world of trouble. Of course, only the Lord knows the condition of
 individual hearts.
     "In conclusion, we would caution friends of our ministry not to believe
 what they read about Dr. Dobson in the secular media today. Never in the
 30-year history of this ministry has there been more misreporting and
 outright distortion of his beliefs and teachings. It is apparent that those
 who represent a liberal worldview seek to marginalize him and confuse our
 friends. Anyone who ever has a question concerning what they read about Dr.
 Dobson or Focus on the Family is encouraged to contact us for
 clarification. The chances are they have been misinformed."
     CONTACT:  Nima Reza, (719) 548-4570, culturalissues@family.org
 
 

SOURCE Focus on the Family