LOS ANGELES (RNS) — In his newest marketing campaign advert, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who’s up for re-election, walks inside a dimly lit Catholic church, kneels and prays for energy and compassion to do his job.
“Lord, give me the energy to guard the general public from violent crime … give me the humility and persistence to not let the naysayers discourage our courageous men and women from serving with honor,” Villanueva says within the advert.
Pictures of stained-glass home windows, spiritual statues and pews are proven amid the background noise of police sirens.
On Friday afternoon, the advert was faraway from the alex4sheriff Instagram after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which covers practically 300 parishes and greater than 4 million Catholics, requested or not it’s taken down. The archdiocese, in an announcement, mentioned it turned conscious of the advert via “involved inquiries and media stories portraying the advert as a potential endorsement.” FOX 11 reported in regards to the advert on Tuesday.
The archdiocese mentioned it was not correctly knowledgeable previous to the filming, including that it doesn’t endorse political candidates.
“Archdiocesan coverage states that Archdiocesan property can’t be used for candidates’ political campaigns. The Archdiocese requested that the advert be taken down and was assured that it will be eliminated,” the archdiocese mentioned in an announcement.
Villanueva’s marketing campaign mentioned it acquired permission to movie from St. Alphonsus Church in East Los Angeles, a bilingual parish that provides Mass in English and Spanish below the Los Angeles archdiocese. The pastor of the church was on set throughout filming, in keeping with the marketing campaign’s assertion.
A nonetheless from a marketing campaign advert video for Alex Villanueva filmed in St. Alphonsus Church in East Los Angeles. Video display seize
“Sheriff Villanueva and his spouse are each religious Catholics and have been longtime members of that church. The marketing campaign was not made conscious that any additional permissions had been required on the time of filming. We have now since been in contact immediately with The Archdiocese of Los Angeles to treatment any issues,” the assertion learn.
Beneath the Johnson Modification, tax-exempt charitable organizations equivalent to homes of worship are prohibited from collaborating immediately or not directly in any political marketing campaign to help or oppose a candidate. Such organizations can not donate to a candidate’s marketing campaign or make public statements on behalf of or towards a candidate.
Villanueva, who was just lately estranged from the Los Angeles County Democratic Get together, has just lately come below hearth for his remedy of the press.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and dozens of stories media organizations despatched a letter to the sheriff in late April condemning his risk to analyze a Los Angeles Instances journalist who reported on a video exhibiting a sheriff’s deputy kneeling on the pinnacle of a handcuffed inmate. The journalist, Alene Tchekmedyian, reported on inner paperwork exhibiting that the sheriff tried to cowl it up.
This story has been up to date.