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What Should We Do?

Leaders Call for Catholics to Support TV Ad Campaign

Carol Hogan, communications director of the California Catholic Conference, said in an April 28 story in the Los Angeles archdiocesan paper, the Tidings, that the conference, which represents California bishops, will do "everything possible" to promote the Parents Right to Know and Child Protection initiative if it gets on the November ballot.

Hogan, said a statement by the executive director of the conference, encouraged Catholics and others to back the signature gathering with their "time, talent and treasure."

Hogan emphasized: "To win a ballot initiative in California I think you're talking a minimum of $5 million and probably closer to $10 million to do a credible job. It's just too big of a state. You can't do it without TV ads to counter the negative television ads against it."

In November 1992, Proposition 161, which proposed physician-assisted suicide, was defeated by California voters -- with donations from Catholic churches across California. Collections were taken during Mass at California parishes, and this money was used for the kind of TV ads Hogan referred to in the April 28 story. One observer recalls the armored trucks used to transport donations from churches.

In 2000, Catholic dioceses in California contributed $311,000, including $30,000 from the archdiocese of San Francisco, to the Yes on Proposition 22 campaign. Proposition 22, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, passed in March 2000.

In 2004, the Catholic Church in California contributed $50,000 to the No on 71 campaign. Proposition 71, which passed, was the embryonic stem cell research initiative that called for $3 billion in research money.

One source close to the Proposition 73 campaign pointed out the collection of funds at parish Masses has the advantage of getting more people involved and promotes voter education.

Another observer gives this analysis: "the churches have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking up a second collection at Mass for Parents' Right to Know. They will put themselves on the right side of the child abuse issue and save lives and protect young girls. It's a win-win situation."

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