IRS Complaint Lodged Against Dobson's Focus On The Family

On November 28, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (full text) challenging the tax-exempt status of James Dobson's group, Focus on the Family. CREW claims that Dobson uses his influence to support candidates for political office. The complaint particularly focuses on Dobson's endorsement in 2004 of Patrick J. Toomey who was running for Senate in Pennsylvania and on the endorsement of President George W. Bush's nomination in 2004. NAMC Newswire reports that another group, Soulforce, Inc., is joining CREW's efforts by circulating an online petition calling for an IRS investigation of Dobson's group. Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said, "The IRS has established a track record of scrutinizing organizations, in particular liberal ones, that have purportedly violated electioneering regulations. We hope that the IRS will fully investigate Focus on the Family activities as vigorously as it has targeted those of progressive organizations." The Rev. Dr. Mel White, founder of Soulforce added, "Misusing religion and/or God to support bias against sexual and gender minorities, inappropriately justifies psychological, legal and physical violence against them. Such abuses must be stopped and can no longer be subsidized via misuse of the tax laws."