Focus On The Family: Pro-Family Leader Calls For Action On National Daily Broadcast

11/25/2002

From: David Gasak, Public Policy Information Coordinator for Focus on the Family, 719-548-4570 or gasakdp@fotf.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Nov. 25 -- Today, Focus on the Family applauded efforts by Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) and others who have encouraged President Bush to ask Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) to respect parental rights within the organization's mentoring program. The BBBSA enacted a policy this year requiring that all of its 490 affiliates include homosexuals among volunteers it matches with children.

In a letter to President and Mrs. Bush, the honorary co-chairs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, nine congressmen ask the first couple to empower parents and support efforts to roll back the youth mentoring organization's recently enacted policy. The BBBSA claims that parents ultimately approve a volunteer match by signing a consent form. While this is true with community-based programs, it does not apply to the school-based programs in which a parent is asked to sign a general consent form that gives no indication their child could be matched with a homosexual mentor.

Dr. James Dobson joins the congressmen in urging President Bush to use his influence to help change the BBBSA's policy. Dobson, who had endorsed the organization in his recent best-selling book, "Bringing Up Boys," rescinded the endorsement and removed the group as a referral organization in future editions of the book.

Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist-in-residence for Focus on the Family, added, "Big Brothers Big Sisters is ignoring psychological research that clearly shows many gay men are attracted to adolescent boys. Apparently, the lessons of the Catholic Church have been lost amid their desire to pander to a politically correct agenda."

In fact, several cases of molestation by BBBSA volunteers have been reported in recent months. In Ohio, a Big Brothers volunteer has been charged with raping the 12-year-old boy he was supposed to be mentoring. The volunteer allegedly engaged in improper conduct with at least six other boys during the last five years.

Maier added, "Unfortunately, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America may continue to see more cases like this. Matching fatherless boys, starved for attention, with homosexual men is an irresponsible recipe for disaster. Contrary to the BBBSA's policy, we believe that America's parents do have a right to know when their children are matched with homosexual mentors and deserve better from an organization that has helped so many. We again call on the BBBSA to rescind this policy that is obviously not in a child's best interest."

Dobson urged listeners to express their concern over the policy to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

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