Parental notification initiative necessary

By JIM HOLMAN

Starting around the end of October, California voters will have the chance of a lifetime — a chance to put human life on the California ballot. This chance — a constitutional amendment — will require abortionists to notify at least one parent at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed on an unmarried daughter less than 18 years old.

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The text for this constitutional ballot initiative was turned in to the state attorney general on Sept. 11. The attorney general has 45 days to give the initiative an official title and summary. Petition circulators then will have 150 days — until the end of March 2004 — to collect 598,105 signatures to qualify the proposition for the November 2004 Presidential election.

Proponents of the initiative have chosen a constitutional rather than a statutory initiative because this will put it outside the reach and the whims of the ultra-liberal, California Supreme Court. In 1986, a parental consent law which was passed by the California Legislature was blocked for 10 years by lawsuits orchestrated by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) until it was finally upheld by a 4 to 3 decision by the California Supreme Court. Surprisingly, the favorable decision was written by the most liberal and senior member, Justice Stanley Mosk. However, before the parental consent law could finally go into effect, Republican Gov. Pete Wilson appointed another pro-abortion Justice, Ming Chin, to replace a retiring pro-parents’ rights justice. Then, in complete disregard to any respect for judicial precedence, the Supreme Court reversed itself and by a 4 to 3 decision ruled that the parental consent law was unconstitutional, with Ronald George, Governor Pete Wilson’s appointee to be Chief Justice, leading the pack.

Even if the California Supreme Court were to change its stripes overnight, the pro-abortion Democratic Party now dominates the California legislature and any and all pro-life legislation is promptly aborted.

Polls show overwhelming support among voters for parental involvement before a minor daughter undergoes an abortion. A Zogby telephone poll done in June 2002 showed over 70 percent of Californians favored parental notification before abortions performed on minor daughters. This initiative has very wide appeal among California voters and Planned Parenthood and the ACLU will have a difficult time campaigning against it.

Leaders of the signature effort are offering 75 cents per valid signature to be paid to a church or charity chosen by the petition circulator, to the circulator himself, or to be donated to the parental notification campaign.

Training and information sessions for signature gatherers have been set up at over 30 locations from September through November, including six locations in San Diego County. For the location nearest you, go to the website www.LifeontheBallot.

Around one-fourth of all abortions in the U.S. are performed in California. Putting this Tell a Parent initiative on the November, 2004 ballot can save an estimated 20,000 lives of unborn babies and great harm to minor daughters.

Come to the training session or go to the website. Get the information. Take it back to your friends and fellow believers. If every church congregation in California collected 50 signatures, this proposition would be qualified for the ballot in a single weekend.

For more information, call 213-896-9554 or email: LifeontheBallot@cox.net.

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Businessman Jim Holman of Coronado is one of the original supporters of the initiative.