Big Layoffs Coming At Focus On The Family

[Mark E. Smith]

Rocky Mountain News

Springs ministry to cut 160 jobs

Focus on Family to trim $9 million

Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, will cut about 160 staff positions and eliminate programs to trim $9 million, a spokesman said Friday.

The group's 2005 budget was about $143 million, and the cuts were necessary to keep the 2006 spending about the same, Paul Hetrick, vice president of communications, said in a news release.

No one with the organization was available Friday to discuss the cuts. The news release said the spending cuts will go into effect Oct 1.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_4088448,00.html

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. Could donations be drying up?

[KittyWampus]

2. $143 million? holy shit

[evlbstrd]

3. They're saving up for 2006?

They're gonna need it.

[jackstraw45]

4. Out of deep respect for their cause....

[ikojo]

5. Well, the newly unemployed can turn to their faith based

employment agencies to find them another faith based job. While they are at it they can pay their electric bills and mortgages with faith based money.

I normally do not take joy in people losing their jobs but it couldn't happen to a nicer group of people.

[Roland99]

6. I'm shedding a tear as I type

[rooboy]

7. "You've been like a son to us.... and by the way, you're fired. " n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. Have people stopped giving to the nutcases?

I saw today where the (Un)Christian Coalition was on it's last leg. Are they losing their mindless flock?

[FreedomAngel82]

9. I wonder myself

:shrug: Why else would they be cutting people unless they don't have enough funding?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. Perhaps their anti-SpongeBob SquarePants campaign went over-budget?

No money left for the staff if they're going to fulfill their obligation to fight evil cartoon characters where ever they lurk. :shrug:

[belle]

30. Just following the other big soulless corporations in downsizing, I bet

Not that I'm not pleased to hear they have to tighten their belt, but 1,342 employees--even minus the 160 layoffs-- is still TOO DAMN MANY.

I'd like to shrink them to the size where you can drown them all in a single baptismal font.

[rockymountaindem]

10. That's ok.

They can all get jobs at The Jericho center right down Chapel Hills Drive. If that doesn't work, they can just go to work for New Life Church on Highway 83, or picket at the 3 nearby Mormon tabernacles until they get a new job.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

11. Dobson needs another learjet.

So long loyal staffers. Peace be unto thee ... n stuff.

[xynthee]

12. C'mon, whistleblowers!!

Out of those 160 "people", surely a few took the job out of sheer desperation instead of ideology. Hopefully they'll be pissed and will spill their guts!!

[tularetom]

16. You know there's some creepy shit going on there

I mean there just has to be. IIRC Dobson is the asshole that bragged about beating his dog and said all men should beat everybody in their home to show that they are the boss. Somebody'll say something but will the liberal media report it?

[charlie]

13. It would be funny as hell

if it turned out any of those positions were outsourced to HeathenLand, AKA India and China.

[lapfog_1]

15. Oct 1 is also the beginning of the federal fiscal year

I wonder if they had their Faith Based funding cut, and if so, by how much?

[KharmaTrain]

17. Triple Whammy...

Inflation, shrinking donations and rising costs for broadcast time.

Looks like Rev Dobson's gonna have to trim the fat a bit. That wonderful age of "prosperity" these goons promise their sheeple doesn't seem to be working these days.

I was tipped off to some serious problems in that and other broadcast ministries. Actually they're a victim of their own success. One of Dobson's prime "networks" is Salem...a company that owns right wing and religious stations across the country. They expanded quickly...overpaying for stations...in recent years, and now it's people like Dobson, who wants to be on "The Patriot" or "The Fish" who are paying the bills.

Other religious groups are having donation troubles, too...some had to spend on expensive upgrades to digital broadcasting...along with massive expansion plans that started when the money and economy was good and now are falling apart.

This is yet another strong wind of change in the broadcasting landscape...big changes are on the way and people like Dobson and Salem are feeling the growing pains.

[yella_dawg]

23. "Inflation, shrinking donations and rising costs"

You mean they hit the trifecta?!

Sorry. Couldn't help it.

[KharmaTrain]

24. That's Only If There's A Plane Involved

Ooops...sorry...couldn't help it either...

:rofl:

[BringEmOn]

18. They'll need to funnel a lot of cash into Republican slush funds in '06

[Old and In the Way]

19. It appears they've lost their focus on families.

Welcome to the Ownership Society.

[charlie]

22. Heh

Good one :thumbsup:

[Bumblebee]

20. That's much better than the layoffs at the NYT!

[Straight Shooter]

21. You can't see me but I'm now doing my Happy Dance!

:D

[jazzjunkysue]

25. They don't need money. The lord will provide. Where is Rove when you need

him? Karl? You down there? karl?

[Ilsa]

26. The Wingnuts screwed the pooch by getting tied up with the GOP.

Religious folk are unhappy with W*'s borrow and spend plan, so they are dissociating from both groups.

[Love Bug]

27. Start the popcorn -- this is just the beginning, folks

I'll bet most of the donations for FOTF come from middle class people and little old ladies on a fixed income. With middle class job losses and higher prices for everything, there is less discretionary income for donations to groups like this. It's ironic that FOTF supports the very people who, through their pathetic policies, have made it almost impossible for FOTF's support base to contine giving.

Karma, anyone?

[AnnieBW]

28. Little Old Ladies from MI, LA, and AL

Yeah, little old ladies from Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, no doubt. The same little old ladies who no longer have a roof over their heads.

[prolesunited]

32. I know I've had to reduce my support for groups

because of monetary issues. No more ACLU or Sierra Club for the time being. I wouldn't doubt they would be feeling the same pressure, if not worse. My guess is they're attracting a less educated crowd that would be feeling the pinch more.

[blue agave]

29. Should say "No one with the organization was available Friday to discuss

the cult"

[Obamarama]

31. Does this mean the Lord Jesus Christ has been downsized?

Are they going to outsource their prayer lines to Bangalore? Could you just imagine that message tree?

"Welcome, and thank you for calling Focus on the Family. We're currently on the line praying for salvation with another sinner. We appreciate your patience and encourage you to pray for us to hurry up and take your call shortly. To speed your call along, please listen to the following menu carefully and respond by entering the appropriate numbers:

1) For mortal sins, press 1
2) For venial sins, press 2
3) If you are speaking in tongues, press 4
4) For stigmata, press 5
5) For demonic possession, press 666
6) For all other calls, please remain on the line and Sarah in a Sari will be with you as soon as she is finished sacrificing buffalo milk to Vishnu.