"Focus on the Family," glass houses, a Philanderer and an "Ex-Gay" Gay [View All]

I guess Dobson thought the scandals of his own "ministry" had been forgotten. Well, here ya go!


A Philanderer:

Focus on the Family official resigns, admits extramarital affair
October 17, 2000
Web posted at: 4:05 PM EDT (2005 GMT)


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- A top official and radio announcer for Focus on the Family said he has resigned from the conservative Christian group because he had an extramarital affair.

Mike Trout abruptly quit last week. In an interview Monday with The Gazette, he admitted to an "inappropriate relationship with a woman other than his wife and had no choice but to resign from a ministry that stresses the sanctity of marriage."

Trout, 53, is best known as the on-air partner of the founder and leader of the ministry, James Dobson. Dobson is a key figure in the conservative Christian movement and earlier this year criticized George W. Bush, claiming the Republican presidential candidate was sacrificing conservative values to appeal to a broader base.

The ministry has declined to discuss the factors behind Trout's resignation, citing legal and privacy concerns.

Trout, who has been married for 31 years, declined to discuss details of the extramarital relationship, but said that the woman was not a Focus on the Family employee and that the relationship was over.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/10/17/conservative.resignation.ap/

The "ex-gay" Gay: (pffft!)

Focus On The Family Stands Behind Paulk
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (EP) -- Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson is standing behind John Paulk, who heads up Focus on the Family's homosexuality and gender issues division. Paulk, a former homosexual, attracted media attention recently after admitting to a visit to a gay bar in Washington, D.C.

Paulk, who initially claimed he only entered the bar to use the restroom, later admitted that he went to the bar to socialize. Speaking later on Dobson's broadcast, Paulk said guilt over his lies forced him to tell the truth. "Finally the Lord said to my spirit, 'You know, John, you are My son. You are accountable to Me, and you must walk rightly before Me. You must be honest with Me, and you must be honest with man...and then Satan can't hurt you,'" Paulk said.

Dobson said Paulk will be disciplined for his mistake, but added that the ministry will stand behind Paulk as he rebuilds his credibility.

"Christians have a reputation for shooting their own wounded," Dobson said. "Who among us has not flirted with temptation? We...won't abandon those who are wounded and hurt by their sin if they turn away from it. This was not a return to wickedness and depravity and we are going to stand with the Paulk family."

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/00b/20001012d.htm


And Corporate Repentance: :wtf:

Focus on Family shows 'repentance'

Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS — Focus on the Family's 1,350 employees prayed, joined hands and circled the ministry's offices to show "corporate repentance and confession" after recent embarrassing revelations about two of its leaders.

"Satan has thrown just about everything in his arsenal at us in the last several weeks as you know," Focus on the Family President James Dobson told the staff in a recorded message Friday. "I am certain those who hate our cause are doing everything they can to undermine and to discredit it."

The $116 million Colorado Springs Christian ministry is going through tough times. Mike Trout, a senior vice president and well-known radio show co-host, resigned Oct. 11 after admitting to an extramarital relationship.

A Focus division chief, John Paulk, was allowed to keep his job after visiting a gay bar in September and lying about it. Paulk, an avowed former homosexual, has been pulled from the speaker list of Saturday's "Love Won Out" conference, which teaches that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice that can be overcome through prayer and therapy.

As a result of the Trout and Paulk incidents, the ministry has become the target of jokes on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Politically Incorrect.

http://www.rockypreps.com/news/1105focu5.shtml