Family campaigner James Dobson dies

Influential US evangelical author and psychologist James Dobson died today, Thursday, it has just been announced.

News agency Associated Press described him as "a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights". He was 89.

Writing on social media, US evangelist Franklin Graham said that Dobson "went home to be with his Saviour today after a brief illness. Dr. Dobson was a staunch defender of the family and stood for morality and Biblical values as much as any person in our country’s history.

"For nearly five decades, he was one of the most influential Christian leaders in our country who saw the importance of faith in culture. He founded Focus on the Family in 1977, and after leaving that ministry, he then launched the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.

"Dr. Dobson’s Family Talk radio program is heard by over half a million people each week. His legacy and impact for Jesus Christ will continue on for generations. I’m sure his wife Shirley and their children would appreciate your prayers."

Gary Bauer, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, said: “Dr. Dobson was a pioneer—a man of deep conviction whose voice shaped the way generations view faith, family and culture. His bold leadership, integrity, and compassion helped equip countless families to thrive in a world of shifting values. He was a mentor, a counsellor, and a steady voice of truth in turbulent times.”

Website drjamesdobson.org stated: "Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dr. Dobson founded Focus on the Family in 1977, creating one of the largest faith-based organisations in the world. His daily broadcasts were heard on over 4,000 radio stations across North America and translated into 27 languages in more than 160 countries. Following his departure from Focus on the Family in 2010, Dr. Dobson launched the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI), continuing his mission through Family Talk, a nationally syndicated radio broadcast offering timeless counsel for today’s families.

"Dr. Dobson authored more than 70 books dedicated to the preservation of the family, including The New Dare to Discipline, The New Strong-Willed Child, Bringing Up Boys, Bringing Up Girls, and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, which remain staples in Christian homes today. His leadership extended beyond media and publishing as he advised multiple U.S. administrations on family policy, juvenile justice, and child welfare.

"A frequent presence in Washington, D.C., Dr. Dobson played key roles in presidential commissions, with appointments by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He was instrumental in shaping national conversations around pornography, gambling, teen pregnancy prevention, and the sanctity of human life, and he served on President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board.

"Dr. Dobson’s voice not only influenced policy but also gave hope to millions seeking practical, faith-based wisdom for their homes. His legacy lives on through the innumerable families he inspired to build their lives on the foundation of Scripture."

The Associated Press reported: "He became a force in the 1980s for pushing conservative Christian ideals in American politics alongside fundamentalist giants like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. He campaigned for bringing religious conservatives into the political mainstream, and in 1989, Falwell called Dobson a rising star. Decades later, he served on a board of evangelical leaders that advised President Donald Trump in 2016. He supported Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns."

The New York Times said: "In an era of change that revolutionised concepts of family life, child-rearing, marriage and sexual identity, Dr. Dobson was for countless conservative Americans a rockbound beacon of resistance who denounced the 'wickedness' of abortion and same-sex marriage, and who advised parents how to communicate better with each other and how to educate and discipline their children."