Seeking to restore the cross removed last year from the Los Angeles County Seal, a "group of grandmothers from the San Gabriel Valley" is among those gathering signatures throughout the archdiocese as part of a grass-roots petition drive to reinstate the original seal.

Volunteers at over 15 parishes last weekend staffed sidewalk tables in efforts to contribute toward the 170,000 signatures needed by Sept. 26 to qualify the initiative for the ballot next year. Proponents of the measure want to amend the county code to adopt the 1957 seal as the official seal, requiring voter approval to alter the original design.

Backers include a coalition of cultural, religious and historical groups including The Los Angeles County Heritage Coalition. Petition drive leader David Hernandez urged the County Board of Supervisors in an Aug. 30 letter to reconsider their decision to remove the cross and "take a bold move and adopt the ordinance" outright, saving "time, money and energy by those who are about to launch the final effort."

SS. Felicitas and Perpetua parishioner Terry Seidler, 72, who was present at the all-day Sept. 14, 2004 meeting when county supervisors voted 3-2 to eliminate the cross in the face of a threatened ACLU lawsuit, was among those galvanized into action by the "decision to deny history." Media polls taken at the time indicated over 90 percent of the local population wanted to retain the original seal. Currently, the redesigned seal depicts the San Gabriel Mission --- without its trademark bell tower --- instead of the cross.

Last November, Seidler and a core group of volunteers sent a letter to pastors and parish council presidents outlining ways for parishioners to participate in a non-partisan, ecumenical petition drive. "We are a group of grandmothers committed to honoring history and saving the cross on the original Los Angeles County Seal," said the 31 letter signers. Petition drives conducted at parishes in January and February contributed to an overall 110,000 signatures, though the total fell short of qualifying for the ballot by 60,000.

The current petition drive, garnering voter signatures since late summer, is going well according to a letter sent to parishes that was signed by 141 initiative supporters. "There is more ecumenical and wide-spread support for the petition drive this time. People of all faiths want to honor history as well as the Cross," the letter stated.

Petition drive volunteers noted that a mid-August statement by Pope Benedict XVI was particularly encouraging. "It is important that God is great among us in public life and in private life," Pope Benedict said during a parish church homily in Castel Gandolfo outside Rome. "In public life, may God be present in signs of the cross in public buildings." Benedict added that "contrasts become irreconcilable" when God is shunted aside.

Last Sunday, Sept. 4, the official date of the founding of Los Angeles in 1781 when 11 families walked from the San Gabriel Mission to establish "El Pueblo de Nuestra Seņora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula," petition drive volunteers fanned out across the archdiocese to collect signatures.

Volunteer Mirna Stanley, stationed outside Holy Family Church last weekend in Glendale, said she was hopeful the recent attempt at getting enough signatures would qualify the measure for the ballot. "If this isn't successful, we're going to lose a lot. The cross has historical value. This is not just a Catholic issue," declared Stanley, who estimated she would collect 300 signatures over the weekend.

"I'm tired of the ACLU trying to rewrite history," said petition signer Michael Wilson, 51. "Having the cross on the seal hurts no one. It's just a reflection of the history of Los Angeles County, which was founded by Spanish missionaries."

Margaret Madden, 64, signed the petition, declaring: "We have our rights, too. We should be able to see the cross. It's always been there. If it offends somebody, just let them look away."

Editor's note: Petitions are available for signing weekdays at Loyola High School, 1901 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, and St. Francis High School, 200 Foothill Blvd, La Caņada. Petitions are also available by e-mailing petitionavailability@hotmail.com or calling (818) 982-1384 and (800)707-3994.