Family Research Council

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The Family Research Council (FRC) is a Christian right non-profit think tank and lobbying organization. It was formed in the United States by James Dobson in 1981 and incorporated in 1983. The group was designed to be a lobbying force for conservative legislation on Capitol Hill. In the late 1980s the group officially became a division of Dobson's main organization Focus on the Family, but in 1992 IRS concerns about the group's lobbying led to an administrative separation. Its function is to promote traditional family values. The current president is Tony Perkins.

The Family Research Council has been publicly involved in promoting socially conservative views on many issues, including divorce, homosexuality, and abortion. The Church Report ranks FRC first in the category of Christian political organizations. [1]

Contents

[edit] History

According to the organization's website, "the Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society".

"The idea of the Family Research Council originated at the 1980 White House Conference on Families. Among the conferees, James Dobson stood out because of his rare combination of Christian social values and academic and professional credentials. A practicing clinical psychologist and noted author, Dobson had recently transitioned into radio broadcasting and also launched a nonprofit, family service organization. He felt that the time was ripe to establish an organization that would drive the national debate on family issues. In 1983, the Family Research Council incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in the District of Columbia; its founding board included Dobson and two noted psychiatrists, Armand Nicholi Jr. of Harvard University and George Rekers of the University of South Carolina," it states.

"Under the leadership of Jerry Regier, a former Reagan Administration official at the Department of Health and Human Services, FRC began to link policy makers with researchers and professionals from a variety of disciplines. Gary Bauer, a domestic policy advisor to President Ronald Reagan, succeeded Regier in 1988 and by the mid-1990s the organization had grown into a $10 million operation with a nationwide network of support...", it states.[2]

The FRC is associated with James Dobson's Focus on the Family and William J. Bennett.

Edgar Prince helped Gary Bauer start the Family Research Council. Edgar Prince is the father of Erik Prince, founder of the private military contractor Blackwater USA.[3]

[edit] Politics and Policies

The FRC policies are in general those of the Christian Right:

  • FRC campaigns for an increase in abstinence-only sex education.
  • Supports the wide availability of a vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV), a virus that causes cervical cancer, but "oppose any measures to legally require vaccination or to coerce parents into authorizing it."[4]. In 2005, a representative of FRC described vaccination in an interview with New Scientist magazine as 'potentially harmful, because [young women] may see it as a license to engage in premarital sex.'[5] FRC later released a clarification saying, "After extensive study of the vaccine and discussion with medical experts, we concluded that the public health benefits of developing and distributing such a vaccine far outweighed any potential, hypothetical concerns about its impact on sexual behavior. Therefore, we announced in October of 2005 that we would enthusiastically support the development of the vaccine and federal approval of its use, including its addition to the list of vaccines recommended to physicians and of those made available to lower-income families through the Vaccines for Children program." [6]
  • They have commented in support of intelligent design and the movement's "Teach the Controversy" campaign.[7][8][9]
  • Frequently campaign for tighter regulation of pornography, especially internet pornography and indecency on broadcast-TV. Actively opposed the introduction of a .xxx domain name, and lobbied for an increase in indecency fines from the FCC.
  • Strongly opposed to legal abortion.
  • Oppose research which involves or benefits from the destruction of embryos.
  • Opponents of legal recognition of homosexual "domestic partnerships" (in either 'marriage' or 'civil unions').
  • Favors preclusion of (in order to overturn) all legislative, executive, or judicial action at any level of state or local government designed to protect the status of persons based on their 'homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships.' [10]
  • Opposes population control measures.
  • Advocates for lower taxes and limited government.
  • Favors strong military action against "radical Islam".
  • Supports simplifying the tax code, increasing the child tax credit, and permanently eliminating the marriage penalty and estate taxes.
  • Opponents of the idea that humans are responsible for global warming.[11][12] [13]
  • Strongly opposes all forms of gambling. This position has created some controversy within the Christian community, as gambling is not prohibited in the Bible[14]. This schism is evidenced by the fact that many churches hold gambling contests, especially bingo, to raise funds. Focus’ insistence on this position, as a result, has been interpreted as “extra-Biblical doctrine” that was created by some within the Christian Right who are personally opposed to gambling. At the November 14, 2007 House Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers”[15], Family Research Council Vice President Tom McClusky testified that his organization favored banning Internet poker in the United States. When questioned further by Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN] on how much gambling FRC advocated banning, McClusky testified that FRC wished to ban all gambling in America, including even poker[16]. Upon hearing this, Rep. Cohen incredulously asked "is there any fun you are for?", leading many in the blogosphere to nickname sister organization Focus on the Family “Foes of Fun”[17].

In their report Funding the Culture Wars[18] the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy[19] lists the Family Research Council as one of the leading organizations funding the activities of the Christian right and the conservative movement.

The FRC publishes frequent e-mail updates, usually in the form of three short articles. These can also be viewed on their website. These articles typically take the form of advocacy for a conservative Christian perspective on current political and social issues.

[edit] Controversy and criticism

[edit] Pedophilia and homosexuality

The Family Research Council has been known (along with other right-wing organizations) to link pedophilia with homosexuality. The FRC claims that up to one-third of child molestation is committed by gays, and that gays only account for 1-3% of the total population; concluding that they molest at an alarming rate.[20] The criticism however comes from how they gather their statistics and how they define homosexuality. According to the FRC, any sexual abuse between an adult and a child of the same sex makes the adult gay (rather than bisexual). Due to the fact one third of child molestation is committed against boys, and men account for the majority of sex crimes against children, the FRC deems it fair to claim that gays molest at a far higher rate than heterosexuals. This of course can only be true assuming every male who molests a boy is gay (rather than bisexual) - or in other words, if sexual orientation is defined by isolated actions alone, or that sexual acts against children reflect adult sexual orientation (which some researches conclude it does not [21]).

[edit] Hotel pornography campaign

On August 22, 2006 a coalition of conservative groups including the FRC announced they "strongly believe" hotel porn is prosecutable, and that they have issued an "urgent appeal" to the Department of Justice to "immediately investigate" two leading in-room adult movie distributors.[22]

The ad in USA Today says the "DOJ and FBI should immediately investigate whether 'adult' videos being sold in hotels by OnCommand and LodgeNet violate long-established Federal and State laws regarding distribution of obscene material." The ad continues, "Adult hardcore pornography can tragically lead to sex crimes against women and children...Yet sex videos are available in millions of U.S. hotel rooms which we strongly believe are prosecutable."[23][24]

[edit] 2006 'Values Voters' Summit

Between September 22 - 24, the political arm of FRC, FRCAction, sponsored a summit of evangelical voters, which drew Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mike Huckabee, George Allen, Tony Snow and others. The summit turned controversial when a number of religious figures took the podium to denounce homosexuality, referring to homosexuals as faggots, with one preacher claiming that "the gay rights movement ascended to us from the pits of hell itself" and another angrily shouting "I want the gays mad at me, I want to be in their sights! The Anti-Christ will be a homosexual!".[25][26] The event was coordinated by FRC Action, the political action arm of the Family Research Council. Co-sponsors included other political action arms of major Christian Right groups: Focus on the Family Action (Dr. James Dobson), Americans United to Preserve Marriage (Gary Bauer), and American Family Association Action (Donald Wildmon).

[edit] Response to Mark Foley scandal

Main article: Mark Foley scandal

Tony Perkins, appearing on CNN on October 2, 2006, stated:

"There’s no defense of this behavior. It’s outrageous. It’s shocking. But it shouldn’t be totally surprising. When we hold up tolerance and diversity as the guideposts for public life, this is what you end up getting. You get congressmen chasing 16-year-olds down the halls of Congress. It’s a shame. It’s a tragedy and it does need to be addressed. But not just the symptoms here. We need to go to the source of the problem. And if the leadership was negligent, it should be dealt with and should be dealt with in the most severe way possible. But what prevented the leadership from acting? Were they fearful of acting because they would be seen as homophobic or gay bashing?" [27]

On the topic of gays continuing to serve in the Republican Party, Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council said:

"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," ... "All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns." [28]

[edit] Racism and Dominionism allegations

The Southern Poverty Law Center has linked the Family Research Council to racism through the activities of its president Tony Perkins.[29] In the April 26, 2005 issue of The Nation magazine journalist Max Blumenthal wrote that Tony Perkins has longstanding ties to racist organizations, including a deal with David Duke to share his mailing list: "Four years ago, Perkins addressed the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), America's premier white supremacist organization...in 1996 Perkins paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,000 for his mailing list. At the time, Perkins was the campaign manager for a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Louisiana. The Federal Election Commission fined the campaign Perkins ran $3,000 for attempting to hide the money paid to Duke."[30]

Along with the Heritage Foundation, Christian Coalition, and Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council is identified as an dominionist organization by TheocracyWatch[31][32], which says that the Congressional scorecard of the Family Research Council illustrates its success and the strength of dominionists in Congress.[33]

[edit] In United States politics

Main article: Christian right in United States politics

The Christian right in United States politics has helped shape domestic and foreign policy. The Christian right, as defined by a rightist/conservative political group with fundamentalist religious leanings, has grown and changed over the last few decades.

As a modern political force, the Christian Right began in 1974 when Robert Grant founded American Christian Cause to advocate Christian moral teachings in Southern California. Concerned that Christians overwhelmingly voted in favor of President Jimmy Carter in 1976, Grant founded Christian Voice to mobilize Christian voters in favor of candidates who share their values. Grant involved national conservative leaders including Gary Jarmin, Howard Phillips, Terry Dolan, and Richard Viguerie in his movement and made national headlines when Christian Voice-backed candidates including Ronald Reagan, Steve Symms, Dan Quayle, and John East defeated entrenched incumbents in the 1978 and 1980 elections. After Grant ousted Phillips, Dolan, and Viguerie several years later, the trio went on to recruit Jerry Falwell to build a new Christian Right organization, the Moral Majority. Grant's movement was said to have played a significant role in the election of President Ronald Reagan in 1980 and dozens of imitators were founded including Concerned Women for America, American Coalition for Traditional Values, and the Christian Coalition.

[edit] 2008 Value Voters Summit

From October 19 to October 21 2007 the Family Research Council convened a summit of several hundred conservative Christian activists in Washington, DC. The mission of the meeting was to conduct a straw poll on whom is the best choice for religious conservatives.[34][35]

The difference of votes contrasted, as to the online poll and the onsite poll. (The online poll was conducted for several months prior to the summit.[36] However, some summit attendees said that they were voting online to avoid long lines. [37])

[edit] Leading candidates, online poll

[edit] Leading candidates, onsite poll

  • No. 1: Mike Huckabee, 51.26%
  • No. 2: Mitt Romney, 10.40%
  • No. 3: Fred Thompson, 8.09%
  • No. 4: Tom Tancredo, 6.83%

[38]

[edit] Personnel

  • Tony Perkins - President
  • Chuck Donovan - Executive Vice President
  • Tom McClusky - Vice President for Government Affairs
  • Paul Tripodi - Vice President for Administration
  • Charmaine Yoest - Vice President for Communications
  • Robert Morrison - Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Jack Burkman - former Family Research Council lobbyist
  • Robert L. Maginnis - former Vice President for Policy[39]
  • Michael Fragoso - researcher for the Center for Human Life and Bioethics [40]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ The Church Report Top 20 List of Political Christian Organizations URL accessed May 12, 2006.
  2. ^ Family Research Council (2006). Over 23 years defending family, faith, and freedom. About FRC: History/Mission. Family Research Council. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  3. ^ {{cite journal + Edgar Prince helped Gary Bauer start the Family Research Council. |last = Scahill |first = Jeremy |year = 2006 |title = In the Black(water) |journal = The Nation |issue = June 5, 2006 |url = http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060605/scahill |accessdate = 2006-08-12 }}
  4. ^ Family Research Council Statement Regarding HPV Vaccines, February 21, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2007 from frc.org.
  5. ^ Will cancer vaccine get to all women? - sex - 18 April 2005 - New Scientist
  6. ^ Clarification of 2005 Family Research Council Media Remarks on HPV Vaccine, Family Research Council web site (undated material). Retrieved July 16, 2007.
  7. ^ Will South Carolina's Science Curriculum Evolve? Washington Watch Daily Radio commentary, June 29, 2006.
  8. ^ Intelligent Design Deserves Intelligent Debate Tony Perkins' Washington Update, October 18 2005.
  9. ^ No Freedom to Choose in Education, Tony Perkins' Washington Update, January 12 2006.
  10. ^ ACLU ProCon.org Case No. 679 Romer v. Evans [1]
  11. ^ One-Size Politics Doesn't Fit All. Christianity Today (27). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  12. ^ The Sky Is Warming! The Sky Is Warming!. Family Research Council. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. “When Gore introduced a 10-point plan to make the environment a U.S. priority, conservatives argued that taking the steps he proposed would stifle the economy and harm the family... Evangelicals Should Not Be Fooled by Global-Warming Hysterics”
  13. ^ Bansal, Monisha (18). Group Calls for Population Control to Stop Global Warming. Cybercast News Service. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  14. ^ May 6, 2003, Moral Crusader Says He Will Gamble No More, New York Times
  15. ^ Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers
  16. ^ Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers
  17. ^ Daily Kos, Nov. 18, 20007, FoF = Foes of Fun?
  18. ^ John Russell. Funding the Culture Wars: Philanthropy, Church and State, January 2005.
  19. ^ The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
  20. ^ Family Research Council: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 "IS02E3"
  21. ^ http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pdfs/study.pdf
  22. ^ Crary, David (2006). Conservatives try to curtail hotel porn. News. Associated Press. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
  23. ^ Campaign for Corporate Responsibility targets hotel porn sellers. Press release. Citizens for Community Values (2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
  24. ^ Brynaert, Ron (2006). Coalition of conservative groups believe hotel porn may be prosecutable. www.rawstory.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
  25. ^ Think Progress (2006). ‘Values Voter Summit’ Features Attack on ‘Faggots,’ Claim That Gay Rights Movement Inspired ‘From The Pit Of Hell Itself’. Think Progress. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
  26. ^ The Nation (2006). With the Party of Dobson. The Nation. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
  27. ^ Tony Perkins: ‘Tolerance And Diversity’ Are To Blame For ‘Congressmen Chasing 16-Year-Olds’ at thinkprogress.org. Retrieved on October 4, 2006
  28. ^ Some Seek 'Pink Purge' in the GOP Johanna Neuman. Los Angeles Times, October 18 2006.
  29. ^ 'A Mighty Army': Family Research Council, Intelligence Report profile, p. 3.
  30. ^ Blumenthal, Max, "Justice Sunday Preachers", The Nation, April 26, 2005
  31. ^ The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party [2]TheocracyWatch, Last updated: March 2006; URL accessed April 29, 2006.
  32. ^ Taking Over the Republican PartyTheocracyWatch, Last updated: February 2005; URL accessed April 29, 2006.
  33. ^ "Dominionist Influence in The U.S. Congress", TheocracyWatch, Last updated: December 2005; URL accessed April 23, 2006.
  34. ^ FRC Action: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
  35. ^ Michelle Vu, "Presidential Hopefuls Highlight 'Values' to Christian Conservatives," "The Christian Post," October 20, 2007 http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071020/29775_Presidential_Hopefuls_Highlight_'Values'_to_Christian_Conservatives.htm
  36. ^ American Thinker Blog: Romney, Huckabee Top Straw Poll at Value Voters Summit
  37. ^ David Brody, "The Straw Poll...The Morning After" October 21, 2007 Christian Broadcasting Network http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/253887.aspx
  38. ^ FRC Action: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
  39. ^ Lobby Watch, Family Research Council The Center for Public Integrity. R. L. Maginnis is a policy analyst with the FRC the author of "Legalization of Drugs: The Myths and the Facts," a conservative text about drug addiction against drug legalization.
  40. ^ [3]

[edit] External links

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