Big Business builds command center for Family Research Council.

The Family Research Council is getting a new home: a six-story building in the heart of the nation's capital, courtesy of well-heeled right-wing business executives.

FRC head Gary Bauer announced the move in the group's Washington Watch newsletter last month. Bauer explained to readers that no donations from FRC supporters were used to build or decorate the new facility, but rather the money came "through resources provided by our benefactors the Prince and DeVos families."

Bauer is referring to Elsa Prince and Rich and Helen DeVos, two Michigan-based families who have a history of underwriting far right causes. Bauer reports that Ed Prince, founder of the Prince Corporation, approached the DeVos family, founders of the Amway multi-level marketing firm, and suggested a joint venture to give FRC a new home. (Ed Prince died in 1995.)

Brandishing some military rhetoric, Bauer wrote, "Carved on the facade are the words "Faith, Family, and Freedom," proclaiming what we stand for and our intention to remain in the battle. The signal is clear. We have planted our flag, the battle lines are drawn, and the troops are ready."

Continuing the military theme, Bauer announced that the building's "family center" also includes "a section memorializing those who have served our nation in uniform" arid that the library offers "computer kiosks featuring an inter-active war archive video ...." Bauer did not say how much it cost to build, decorate and equip the facility.

FRC functions as the Washington political operation of Focus on the Family, a religious broadcasting empire founded by radio counselor James Dobson. Dobson, one of the Religious Right's most radical voices, has stated that the two organizations are legally separate but "spiritually one."

In other news about the Religious Right:

* The Colorado group that promoted the state's anti-gay initiative has found a new crusade: pushing a school board policy that promotes "abstinence and traditional marriage" and condemns "promiscuity."

Colorado for Family Values is pressuring Colorado Springs District 11's board to adopt the policy. The group began the effort after a school newspaper at Palmer High School published two articles about homosexuality that angered Religious Right activists. The group has printed 130,000 postcards demanding adoption of the policy that it is distributing through local churches.

Focus on the Family has backed the crusade, and FOF chief James Dobson devoted 30 minutes to the topic on his daily national broadcast last month.

Megan Day, director of Citizens Project, a local progressive watchdog group, called for civility. "Oftentimes, we have the same goals," she told Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. "We all want to reduce teen pregnancy, and who would promote promiscuity? It's just that our means are different. If we didn't focus on our perceived differences, and instead focused on what we have in common, we could get somewhere."