Signature gathering for Parental Notification




The California bishops have unanimously urged signature gathering for the Parental Notification initiative. The turn-in of signatures to the counties is April 30, which means only six-seven weeks remain to get your church done. Call (855) 263-2254 to get petitions and for more information. 

The following is an eye witness account of signature gathering at a parish on Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 121,302 signatures! And they intend to collect more next weekend.

What made the difference?

It required contacting the deacon of the parish and asking for his help in influencing the pastor.

It required the pastor allowing a guest speaker to make a pulpit announcement explaining Parental Notification.

It required the pastor to follow up and ask the parishioners to support it before dismissal after mass.

(As the day progressed, the pastor became more and more enthusiastic about the campaign as he saw the level of support it garnered.)

It required about a dozen volunteers to man the tables at the seven exits after each Mass.

It took about 5 -10 minutes after each Mass to gather the signatures. Because there were many points of contact, people did not have to wait long to sign.

We probably handed out 250+ packets (of petitions, flyers, instruction sheets) as well because so many asked to take them to work and home. We did not have to press them to do so.

True, this is a large parish. But just imagine what we could have accomplished if every pastor were given the encouragement to do the same.

In our calls to parishes last couple weeks, we’ve had large parishes like this report 47 signatures. There is no excuse for this, except that it is deemed not worthy and is therefore given very low priority.

It is heartening to volunteer at a parish like this.

March 9 update from the churches

Saint Josephs in Big Bear Lake (San Bernadino County) “small, but committed parish” – 626 signatures.

St. Mary in Escondido (San Diego Co.) – 1100 signatures “in two Sundays”

Blessed Sacrament in Westminster (Orange Co.) – 985 signatures

Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa (Orange) – 835 signatures

Our Lady of the Rosary in Paramount (Los Angeles) – 570 signatures

St. Anthony in El Segundo (Los Angeles) – 550 signatures

Our Lady of Lourdes in Northridge (Los Angeles) – 831 signatures

St. John Eudes in Chatsworth (Los Angeles) – 625 signatures

March 12

Madonna del Sasso in Salinas (Monterey) – 771 signatures

St Peter & St Paul Catholic Church, Alta Loma (San Bernadino) – 1,116 signatures

St. Michael in Paradise Hills (San Diego) – 1300 signatures

Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Habra (Orange – 1576 signatures
(this is updated amount from previous 700 reported)

READER COMMENTS

Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2012 6:04 AM By Pete
The “Family” and the required Church teaching on “Subsidiarity” – CCC: 1883, 1885, 1894, 2209, are critical for our Society. Those who have supported government laws, policies and rules at any level of government (including Obamacare) – that usurp the rights and responsibilities of parents and the family have done our Faith and this Nation a great injustice. The Government is not a god, and decisions made by those in power can be gravely sinful.

Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:56 AM By Bud 
We have so many Catholics that minimally practice their faith but are totally clueless of the attacks from the secular government. They are not even aware nor really want to be. Unless the pastors and deacons do the “broadcasting” as much as possible, a sense of responsibility will remain as it is now!