In spite of a recent poll indicating more opponents than supporters of Proposition 73, the parental notification measure for minors seeking abortions, pro-life leaders around the state are hopeful a majority of voters will turn out for the special election Nov. 8 to vote yes on the measure.
"We think we're going to win because it's a common sense initiative and most parents are with us regarding their need to know about medical procedures performed on their daughters," said Carol Hogan, lobbyist at the bishops' California Catholic Conference.
Aware of statewide poll results by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California indicating that opposition to Proposition 73 exceeds support for the measure by about six percentage points based on mid-October telephone calls to 1,079 "likely voter" state residents, Hogan said the outcome is too close to call and will depend on voter turnout.
Marie Widmann, pro-life Catholic Ministries director for the San Bernardino Diocese, agreed that the fate of Proposition 73 can't be predicted in the few remaining days before the election. According to Widmann, passage of Proposition 73 depends on "people of good will going to the polls and voting."
Widmann, who said the California bishops did an "outstanding job" providing Internet downloadable information materials to parishes, said a grass roots coalition of Christians has been invaluable in increasing support for passage of Proposition 73.
"It's terrifying that a 12-year-old in California can be taken by her 22-year-old boyfriend to a clinic for an abortion without parents' knowledge," said Widmann.
She said Proposition 73 has helped to educate state residents about the lack of parental notification for minors seeking abortions. If Proposition 73 passes, California will become the 35th state with similar parental involvement laws.
Noting that opposition groups had $6 million at their disposal, Widmann said supporters have "the power" of a broad, grass-roots base. "What we do have is the blessing of the Christian people," she emphasized. Currently, Widmann is lining up volunteers who will man pro-Proposition 73 telephone banks in advance of the election.
Bob Cielnicky, founder of Life Priority Network, is hopeful that voters will support Proposition 73 as a "common sense" issue. As part of Proposition 73 coalition efforts, Cielnicky helped distribute informational flyers to Protestant churches in Orange County.
"Many said they didn't know children could be taken down to an abortion clinic without their knowledge, although this has been going on for a quarter of a century," said Cielnicky, who noted that approximately 20 percent of 360,000 abortions in California are performed annually on minors.
Stan Devereux, communications director and spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 73 campaign, is confident that the measure will pass. "We're ahead based on a number of private and public tracking polls," said Devereux, who nonetheless emphasized that Proposition 73 passage depends on supporter turnout.
"It's important that Catholics and those who support restoring parental rights vote for Prop 73 on Election Day," said Devereux.
For information on how to participate in pro-Proposition 73 telephone-bank efforts, contact Marie Widmann at (909) 393-9498. |