Dobson Speaks at Third Stand for the Family Rally

Sep 28, 2004 10:15 PM EDT

When Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, spoke at a rally yesterday aimed at increasing more Christian voters at the polls this year, he didn’t tell the crowd to pray for or vote for any particular presidential candidate.

“The Lord cares about righteousness and that's what we should pray for,” said Dobson to a standing ovation from attendants of the third Stand for the Family rally at the Baton Rouge River Center in Louisiana.

Dobson, also known for his daily radio broadcast which receives an average of 2 million listeners a day, received similar reception from crowds who attended the first two Stand for the Family rallies in Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. Three more are scheduled for this year.

He asked the crowd if they wanted prayer at school, Bible readings at school, prayer at school graduation, the Ten Commandments on bulletin boards at schools, a permanent ban on partial-birth abortion and for students to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day in schools. For every question, the crowd responded with heavy applause.

Dobson blamed “judicial tyranny” for denying those rights they deserve.

"Now, they want to redefine the institution of marriage,” he said, “and we must say, 'Not in our lifetime.'"

America's people do not want same-sex marriage, said Dobson, reminding the crowd of that the Louisiana initiative banning same-sex “marriage” recently passed with a 78% approval.

Allowing same-sex “marriage” would only raise levels of cohabitation and children born out of wedlock, according to Dobson.

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, echoed Dobson’s concerns. "You understand that all of our children should be born into the world and protected by the law," Bauer told the crowd.

Tony Perkins of Family Research Council and Bishop Wellington Boone also spoke during the rally.