California Pro-Life Advocates May Revive Parental Notification on Abortion Bid 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 1, 2006
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) — California pro-life advocates may try a second time to enact a ballot initiative that would allow parents to be notified when their minor daughters are considering an abortion. Proposition 73 lost last November by a close 52 to 47 percent margin.
However, some observers suggest the proposal failed because it was on a ballot with other propositions backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that failed by significant margins in some cases. A new initiative may fare better in a more normal election cycle.
A recent article in The Catholic Faith magazine says parishes throughout the state are looking at a petition campaign to gather 900,000 signatures for a second effort.
"This measure, whose advertising included the slogan ‘Protect Our Daughters,’ will help protect thousands of young girls in California from sexual abuse and exploitation covered up by secret Planned Parenthood abortions," the magazine wrote.
Carol Hogan, communications director for the California Catholic Conference, told the California Aggie newspaper that the magazine doesn’t represent the views of the Catholic church or officials.
She said the church is not involved in trying to get the revised measure on the ballot but would likely issue a statement supporting it if it qualifies.
Katharyn McLearan, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, told the Aggie that she’s not worried about attempts to bring back the proposition because it failed the firs time around.
"We have seen people do this before, but sometimes they don’t even get started and sometimes they don’t have the support they anticipated," she said. "California voters have already spoken."
She said her group would fight any ballot effort to protect teens considering abortions and the interests of their parents.
Last year, California voters living in Los Angeles and along the Pacific coast were largely responsible for the measure’s defeat. Voters living in Orange County, San Diego and inland counties mostly supported the measure.
Still, of all the measures up for consideration, it received the most votes.
In other states with similar laws in place, teen abortions have been reduced by as much as 30 percent or more.
