Dobson Wins Round With IRS

Despite his endorsing of candidates in 2004, Focus On The Family head James Dobson has been cleared of IRS charges that he endangered the group’s non-profit status, ruling that he acted as an individual, not on behalf of the ministry.

Under IRS rules, non-profits can speak out about issues and lobby lawmakers, but they cannot back specific candidates. Liberal watchdog groups filed complaints saying that Dobson blurred the line between FOF and himself, making it seem like FOF itself was endorsing candidates. Dobson says the complaints were intended to muzzle Christian ministries from speaking out about moral issues.

With this ruling, expect more right-wing ministries to spin off their leaders who will only be “speaking for themselves”, of course.