Q & A: James Dobson

The chairman of Focus on the Family speaks about the need for the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.

Why do you support the FMA?

We must be allowed to define marriage in the Constitution via the amendment process. That is the only way to prevent activist judges from redefining it for all of us, as they have done in Massachusetts.

What is your strategy for passing the FMA in Congress and the state legislatures?

We must put as much pressure as we can on Congress to do the right thing. When the amendment gets to the states, it will likely be ratified quickly. People understand the dangerous implications of this experiment.

Why don’t you support stronger language that would ban civil unions?

There is no backbone on Capitol Hill for a stronger amendment. We will have to defeat civil unions individually, at the state level.

You have said that failure to pass the FMA could lead to the destruction of the American family. How so?

A mother and a father form the bedrock of the nuclear family. This has been true in every culture, throughout history, since the beginning of time. No society in human history has ever defined marriage as anything other than between men and women.

Some conservatives say the FMA has little chance of passage. What’s your reading?

We have no choice but to try. It will be a tough fight in Congress, but marriage and the family deserve our best defense.

You have said that if the American family fails, Focus on the Family would have no real purpose. Would you close up shop?

The family is created and ordained by God. It will never fail, but it can suffer great harm as a result of man’s efforts to redefine it. Love for God and for our neighbor demands that we protect people from this harm.

How many years are you willing to devote to this cause?

As many as it takes.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

When Does Personhood Begin? And what difference does it make?

Cover Story

When Does Personhood Begin?

News

Quotation Marks

Fools' Gold

God Minus World = God

Hope Deferred

Inside <em>CT</em>: Bike Rides with Refugees

Memoir of Hope

News

Methodists Divided on Split

Editorial

No-Fault Division?

Pondering a Divorce

Purging the Faith from 'Faith-Based'

Eye for an Eye for an Eye

Discipleship

Saving Strangers

It's About God

Targeted Apologetics

Terror on Top of the World

The 4-14 Window

Truth' on Two Hills

Where Stormie Finds Her Power

Witness Amid War

Frozen Out

News

News Briefs: July 01, 2004

News

Go Figure

Wire Story

Black Eye for Freedom

Review

Celestial Sights

Unwanted Interruptions

Unwanted Interruptions

Unwanted Interruptions

Editorial

The Evil In Us

News

Passages

Heart of Truthfulness

Discreet and Dynamic

Out-of-Control Clerics

Bonds that Bind

Christians Fear Some Backlash After India Elections

Conservative Like a Fox

Explorers of Noah's Lost Ark

View issue

Our Latest

Wire Story

Top ACNA Leader Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Following a string of scandals, the accusations against Archbishop Steve Wood come amid plans for the denomination to overhaul its abuse response.

The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: Should Communion Be Open to All Believers?

Russell takes a listener’s question about church membership and the Communion table.

Anti-Fragile Faith in Chaotic Times

Slow Theology highlights how a long obedience in the same direction grows.

News

Christian Colleges Object to Trump ‘Overreach’ on Higher Ed

The administration’s compact with universities would freeze tuition for five years and cap the number of international students, among other measures.

Will There Ever Be Peace in the Middle East?

An explainer on sectarianism, and how it keeps the region divided.

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube