Yes on 8 Spending Forces Layoffs at Focus on the Family

James Dobson's Focus on the Family, which supported California's Proposition 8 to the tune of  $539,000 in cash and another $83,000 worth of non-monetary support,  is poised to announce major layoffs to its Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire today, according to the Colorado Springs Independent.  The group was the seventh largest donor supporting the initiatve to eliminate same-sex marriages. Focus on the Family boardmember Elsa Prince donated an additional $450,000 to Yes on 8.

These layoffs, which come just two months after the organization’s announcement of dismissals--and weeks after the Focus on the Family's major infusion into the Yes on 8 campaign--reveal Focus on the Family's misguided focus.

It all boils down to the bottom line with Focus on the Family, which seems to be Mammon, not Mom and Dad and Buddy and Sis. Along with promoting socially conservative, fundamentalist issues such opposition to abortion and gay rights, and supporting abstinence-only education (ask Gov GILF how well that worked for Bristol and Levi), the evangelical Christian ministry is a purveyor of Christian books, CDs and DVDs.

James Dobson  has never drawn a salary from the organization, but uses it to promote his related books and publications, yielding him royalties only for sales through other venues.  As Wal-Mart and other online retailers have cut into its product market, Focus announced in September were going to lay off 46 employees from its distribution department.