CSBC congregations encouraged to collect petition signatures on two key family values issues
CSBC congregations are being encouraged to collect petition signatures supporting the Family Child and Teen Safety and Stop Predators Act, better known as Sarah’s Law, and the California Protect Marriage Act to assure their placement on the November 2008 ballot.
California Southern Baptist Convention Executive Board voted Jan. 25 to encourage the collection of signatures. Don Fugate, chairman of the Communications Committee which recommended the action to the Board, said, “These two possible ballot initiatives speak to the core values of what we as Southern Baptists believe about the family.”
Sarah’s Law
The Child and Teen Safety and Stop Predators Act, nicknamed "Sarah's Law," will require an abortion provider to notify in writing at least one parent 48 hours prior to a minor receiving an abortion. The act is in memory of a 15-year-old who died from complications within a few days after having an abortion without her family knowing.
Churches wishing to obtain petitions for Sarah’s Law should contact Rob Pennington of Parents’ Right to Know of California by calling (888) 847-7522 or by e-mail at
Rob@prkca.org.
Individuals wishing to collect only a few signatures can order petitions by going to the front page of
www.friendsofsarah.com and clicking in the salmon-colored box in the upper right corner.
Pennington explained that each petition has space for five signatures and noted only registered California voters are eligible to sign. He also advised against printing the petition since it must be a perfect copy and runs the risk of being invalid.
Pennington explained that churches should mail petitions with collected signatures by Monday, March 24.
California Marriage Protection Act
If the California Supreme Court strikes down Proposition 22, and thus overrules the people's will on marriage (currently defined as a union between one man and one woman), California Marriage Protection Act will be ready with an initiative on the November ballot for the people of the Golden State to vote to override the court and protect traditional marriage, according to Ron Prentice, chief executive officer of the California Family Council.
The act also would deter further efforts by the state Legislature to legalize same-sex “marriage” (despite Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s second veto of such a measure in 2007).
Petitions can be obtained through several avenues which include calling (916) 446-5031; e-mailing
gina@protectmarriage.com; or going to
www.protectmarriage.com and clicking on the “Request Petition” button on the top right of the home page.
Petitions to “protect marriage” need to be received by Friday, April 4. It is recommended that only official petitions be used to gather signatures of registered California voters.
P/559.229.9533 