More layoffs at Focus on the Family

[JackBeck]

Ministry spent more than $500,000 to pass California's Prop. 8 gay marriage ban
By Cara Degette 11/17/08 11:50 AM

UPDATE: Focus on the Family announced this afternoon that 202 jobs will be cut companywide — more than 20 percent of its workforce. Initial reports bring the total number of remaining employees to around 950.

Focus on the Family is poised to announce major layoffs to its Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire today. The cutbacks come just weeks after the group pumped more than half a million dollars into the successful effort to pass a gay-marriage ban in California.


Critics are holding up the layoffs, which come just two months after the organization’s last round of dismissals, as a sad commentary on the true priorities of ministry.

“If I were their membership I would be appalled,” said Mark Lewis, a longtime Colorado Springs activist who helped organize a Proposition 8 protest in Colorado Springs on Saturday. “That would spend any money on anything that’s obviously going to get blocked in the courts is just sad. is guaranteed to lose, in the long run it doesn’t have a chance — it’s just a waste of money.”

In all, Focus pumped $539,000 in cash and another $83,000 worth of non-monetary support into the measure to overturn a California Supreme Court ruling that allowed gays and lesbians to marry in that state. The group was the seventh-largest donor to the effort in the country. The cash contributions are equal to the salaries of 19 Coloradans earning the 2008 per capita income of $29,133.

http://coloradoindependent.com/15287/after-pumping-money-into-prop-8-focus-on-the-family-announcing-layoffs

:rofl:

[Parche]

1. serves them right

as i hate to see anyone lose their job, this is an exception

:grr: :grr: :grr: :hi:

[JackBeck]

14. The only exception I would make, too.

I can't imagine spending my life dedicated to fomenting hate and divisiveness.

[TomInTib]

19. I've spent the last fourteen years doing exactly that.

Except my target was/is a worthless little shit named George Walker Bush.

[GrantDem]

2. They were more worried about preventing happiness

then they were their own employees.

[JackBeck]

31. Pathetic, isn't it? nt

[donco6]

3. Maybe they can rent out their palatial buildings for . . .

. . . a community organizing group?

[JackBeck]

32. You'd think that Bush's Faith Based initiative would have kept them sufficiently funded.

But all good things must come to an end, I guess.

:fistbump:

[rurallib]

4. Can't they just pray and have God stop the layoffs?

Isn't that the way to fix things? Pray and it is fixed?

[racaulk]

5. Oh well. Too bad, so sad.

You know, FOTF, if you hadn't spent so much money on an initiative that absolutely didn't concern you, you wouldn't have to lay off so many employees.

Perhaps you should spend your money in the future on feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, helping the sick, etc. You know, CHRISTIAN values.

:eyes:

[JackBeck]

11. Exactly.

:applause:

Phony Christians using hate to pad their bank accounts.

[blueclown]

6. Anybody have a picture of Nelson Muntz?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Initech]

18. Like this?

[GrizzlyMan]

7. Why how Christian of them

Meanwhile, Dobson's private jet is at his beckon call.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. Talk about fucked up priorities. nt

[Swamp Rat]

9. HAHA!!! ..... GOOD!!!!!

FUCK those bigots!! I hope they lose their tax exempt status too, and the entire 'ministry' self-destructs. :applause:

[TexasObserver]

10. I'd love to see those pink slips.

"Good news! You helped us stop gay marriage in California! Bad news, we spent the money we were going to use to pay your salary!"

[chalky]

25. LOL! "Better focus on how you're gonna break it to YOUR family!"

n/t

[TexasObserver]

26. Yeah, now they can focus on their own damn family.

instead of someone's in California

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. Let them eat hate. nt

[Mz Pip]

13. How many people do they need

to hate monger? Seems like they could cut at least 900 of the remaining 950.

Will they file for Chapter 11? Will they ask for a bailout? Bush would give them one so they'd better get hopping.

[FreeState]

15. Layoff the whole company I say! n/t

[GrizzlyMan]

16. The key word being company

And I'd bet they don't pay a nickel in taxes.

[FreeState]

17. Of cource they dont - when your in the business of hate you get tax breaks

from their website (I wont link to it...):

Fcus on the Family is a public charity exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to the Organization are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Our policy is to apply all gifts given toward a specific program to that program. Occasionally, we receive more contributions than can be wisely used toward a specific project &emdash; when that happens, we use these funds to meet other pressing needs that spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by helping to preserve traditional values and the institution of the family. Focus on the Family is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

A copy of Focus on the Family's annual financial report and a full description of the organization's charitable purposes and activities may be obtained by contacting Focus on the Family at 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80995 &emdash; [phone]. A copy of the annual report also is available by downloading Focus on the Family's annual report online at www.family.org/financialreports.

Certain states in which Focus on the Family is registered to solicit charitable contributions require us to advise you that a copy of our financial report and other information also is available from them. If you are a resident of the following states, you may obtain information by contacting: FLORIDA: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Reg. #CH 10531. MARYLAND: For the cost of copies and postage, registration documents and information submitted under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, [phone] or, within Maryland, 1-800-825-4510.VIRGINIA: A copy of the financial statement is available upon request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, [phone] or, within Virginia, 1-800-552-9963. WASHINGTON: The registration statement required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State. Financial disclosure information is available from the Secretary of State, Charities Division, P.O. Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504 or, within Washington, call 1-800-332-4483. WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia, 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.

REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE.

[Starry Messenger]

20. .

[chalky]

21. Gasp! But..but...who's going to keep me from getting all those abortions, now?

Who's going to make sure I don't catch "The Gay"? *sob*








(oh, and :sarcasm: for those who might be wondering.)

[intheflow]

22. It couldn't happen to a nicer hate group.

:)

[MineralMan]

23. Ahh....poor Dobson....

He just needs a bigger DONATE button, a couple of new folks to boycott, and he'll be right back in business. Maybe he can revive the "Beat Your Children Regularly" meme.

What a Moran!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

24. There's one group of nervous toadies.

:evilgrin:

[littlebit]

27. Damn I never thought I would laugh about

people losing their jobs. But this is hilarious.

[RedLetterRev]

28. Perhaps if they had focused on their own daggone families

instead of mine, things might've turned out a bit differently. Karma's an exacting mistress and will be served.

[JerseygirlCT]

29. Good. nt

[SoCalDem]

30. "...ministry and media empire...".. A MAJOR reason for most of our problems..n/t