Groovyman1969 (talk | contribs) SPLC designation as hate group is highly significant; adding to lead w/ refs. (Mention of SPLC listing is commonly used in lead section where relevant, e.g. KKK) |
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The '''Family Research Council''' (FRC) is a conservative, [[Christian right]] group and lobbying organization. It was formed in the United States by [[James Dobson]] in 1981 and incorporated in 1983 with [[George Alan Rekers]] and [[Armand Nicholi|Armand Nicholi, Jr.]]<ref name = "FRCHistory">{{cite news |title=About FRC: History/Mission |author= |author2= |newspaper=Family Research Council |date=2010-05-08 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070204154035/www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=HISTORY_ABOUT 1}}</ref> 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 after an administrative separation, FRC officially became an independent entity in 1992. Its function is to promote what it considers to be traditional [[family values]]. It contains a [[501(c)|501(c)(4)]] [[Political action committee|PAC]] known as FRC Action. [[Tony Perkins (evangelical Christian figure)|Tony Perkins]] is the current president. |
The '''Family Research Council''' (FRC) is a conservative, [[Christian right]] group and lobbying organization. It was formed in the United States by [[James Dobson]] in 1981 and incorporated in 1983 with [[George Alan Rekers]] and [[Armand Nicholi|Armand Nicholi, Jr.]]<ref name = "FRCHistory">{{cite news |title=About FRC: History/Mission |author= |author2= |newspaper=Family Research Council |date=2010-05-08 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070204154035/www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=HISTORY_ABOUT 1}}</ref> 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 after an administrative separation, FRC officially became an independent entity in 1992. Its function is to promote what it considers to be traditional [[family values]]. It contains a [[501(c)|501(c)(4)]] [[Political action committee|PAC]] known as FRC Action. [[Tony Perkins (evangelical Christian figure)|Tony Perkins]] is the current president. |
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The FRC promotes [[socially conservative]] views on many issues, including [[divorce]], [[homosexuality]], and [[abortion]] |
The FRC promotes [[socially conservative]] views on many issues, including [[divorce]], [[homosexuality]], and [[abortion]]. |
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Revision as of 08:46, 25 November 2010
The Family Research Council (FRC) is a conservative, Christian right group and lobbying organization. It was formed in the United States by James Dobson in 1981 and incorporated in 1983 with George Alan Rekers and Armand Nicholi, Jr.[1] 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 after an administrative separation, FRC officially became an independent entity in 1992. Its function is to promote what it considers to be traditional family values. It contains a 501(c)(4) PAC known as FRC Action. Tony Perkins is the current president.
The FRC promotes socially conservative views on many issues, including divorce, homosexuality, and abortion.
History
The Family Research Council was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1983. Dr. James Dobson, Armand Nicholi, Jr. of Harvard University, and George Rekers of the University of South Carolina were some of its founding board members.[1]
Politics and policies
The Family Research Council supports the following policies:
- The outlawing of homosexual sexual behavior and an enforcement of "criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior".[2]
- An increase in pro-abstinence sex education.
- Wide availability of a vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV), a virus that causes cervical cancer, but the only public policy measure which they would oppose in promoting the vaccine is an effort to make it mandatory for school attendance. Their position is that it would infringe upon parental rights to decide their own children's medical care, without sufficient public health justification (because HPV is not transmitted through casual contact).[3][dead link]
- A federal conscience clause protecting the right of medical workers to withhold from certain practices, such as abortion or dispensement of contraception, that they find morally objectionable.
- Intelligent design as an alternative to evolution and the ID movement's "Teach the Controversy" campaign.
- Tighter regulation of pornography, especially internet pornography and "obscene, indecent, or profane programing" on broadcast and cable television. Actively opposed the introduction of a .xxx domain name on the grounds that it would legitimize pornography, and lobbied for an increase in indecency fines from the Federal Communications Commission. Believes hotel pornography may be prosecuted.[4]
- Preclusion of 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.'[5][6]
- Lower taxes and limited government.[7]
- Military action by America and its allies against radical Islamic terrorists and other terrorists.
- Simplifying the tax code, increasing the child tax credit, and permanently eliminating the marriage penalty and estate taxes.
It opposes:
- Legal abortion.
- Stem-cell research which involves the destruction of human embryos and funding for the same, instead advocating research using adult cells.
- Legal recognition of same-sex domestic partnerships in the form of marriage or civil unions).
- Population control measures.
- No-fault divorce.
- The idea that humans are mainly or completely responsible for global warming.[8]
- All forms of gambling because it believes it negatively affects one's family, personal, and professional life.[9] This position has created some controversy within the Christian community, as gambling is not explicitly prohibited in the Bible. 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.
Publishing and lobbying activities
In their report Funding the Culture Wars, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy[10] lists the Family Research Council as one of the leading organizations funding the activities of the conservative movement. As a non-profit organization, FRC is completely dependent on donations from supporters.
The FRC publishes frequent e-mail updates, usually in the form of short articles, and 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.
Values Voter Summit
Every fall, FRC Action (the political arm of FRC) holds an annual summit composed of hundreds of conservative Christian activists and evangelical voters in Washington, D.C. In the past, the summit has been a place for social conservatives across the nation to hear Republican presidential hopefuls' platforms, and also a means of providing an early prediction of which candidate will win the endorsement of Christian conservatives.[11] Featured guests at previous summits include Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mike Huckabee,[12] George Allen, Tony Snow, Bill Bennett, Stephen Baldwin, and many others. Co-sponsors of the event 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).[13]
Criticism
In its Winter 2010 Intelligence Report, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated the FRC as a hate group on the grounds that it has perpetuated anti-gay rhetoric and "discredited junk science".[14][15] The Family Research Council's Senior Researcher, Peter Sprigg, has suggested that repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy would encourage molestation of heterosexual service members and has made statements endorsing the criminalization of homosexual behavior. Research Director Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center equated politicians speaking at the Family Research Council sponsored Value Voters Summit to giving an address at a gathering of the Aryan Nations.[16] due to its
FRC President Tony Perkins dismissed the hate group designation as the result of a political "smear campaign".[15]
Personnel
- Tony Perkins - President
- Tom McClusky - Vice President for Government Affairs
- Paul Tripodi - Vice President for Administration
- Paul Fitzpatrick - Vice President for Development
- Peter Sprigg - Vice President of Policy Studies[17]
- Ken Blackwell – Senior Fellow, Family Empowerment
- Patrick F. Fagan – Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Family and Religion
- Chris Gacek – Senior Fellow, Regulatory Affairs
- David Prentice – Senior Fellow for Life Sciences, Center for Human Life and Bioethics
- Cathy Ruse – Senior Fellow – Legal Studies
See also
Notes and references
- ^ a b 1 "About FRC: History/Mission". Family Research Council. 2010-05-08.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you think we should outlaw gay behavior? PETER SPRIGG: Well, I think certainly- MATTHEWS: I’m just asking you, should we outlaw gay behavior? SPRIGG: I think that the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which overturned the sodomy laws in this country, was wrongly decided. I think there would be a place for criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior. MATTHEWS: So we should outlaw gay behavior. SPRIGG: Yes." February 02, 2010. Hardball, MSNBC.
- ^ http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LH07B02
- ^ Brynaert, Ron (2006). "Coalition of conservative groups believe hotel porn may be prosecutable". www.rawstory.com.
- ^ "Petition Exposes Family Research Council's Support for Antigay Violence". Truthwinsout.org. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
- ^ "Don't Keep Don't Ask Don't Tell?". Hardball with Chris Matthews. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|airdate=ignored (help) - ^ "FAQs". Family Research Council. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ "One-Size Politics Doesn't Fit All". Christianity Today. April 27, 2007. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/may/10.22.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
- ^ May 6, 2003, Moral Crusader Says He Will Gamble No More, New York Times
- ^ http://www.ncrp.org/
- ^ 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
- ^ American Thinker Blog: Romney, Huckabee Top Straw Poll at Value Voters Summit http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/10/romney_huckabee_top_straw_poll.html
- ^ http://www.valuesvotersummit.org
- ^ "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
- ^ a b Thompson, Krissah (24 November 2010). "'Hate group' designation angers same-sex marriage opponents". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ "Family Research Council Labeled 'Hate Group' By SPLC Over Anti-Gay Rhetoric". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ Stossel, John (2008-07-15). "Sex Sells, but at What Cost?". ABC News (ABCNews Internet Ventures). http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5370536. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.