Arizona Catholic Conference director honored for work

By Joyce Coronel | March 5, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

TEMPE — United Families International, a non-denominational lobbying and educational organization, honored Ron Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, for his work on behalf of marriage.

Last November, Arizona voters passed Proposition 102, a measure defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman — but only after months of hard work getting the bill through the state Legislature. Johnson was one of several key players who lobbied on behalf of the proposition.

UFI credited passage of the measure by the Legislature and the voters as the result of the work of the “YES for Marriage Coalition” made up of various local organizations and churches, including the Arizona Catholic Conference.

Lina Hatch, director of the Arizona chapter of United Families International, presented Johnson with the award Feb. 18.

“In 2008, Ron played an instrumental role in the lobbying efforts that eventually succeeded on the last night of the legislative session when the marriage amendment was referred to the ballot,” Hatch said.

The UFI’s Arizona director was referring to the last minute wrangling in which supporters of Proposition 102 were left wondering if a key legislator, Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, would support the bill, which needed 16 votes in order to pass.

The senator’s vote represented the all-important 16th vote, but Proposition 102 supporters worried about her newly established friendship with opponents of the bill.

At the last minute, the senator took to the floor of the Senate and explained why she was supporting Proposition 102. The measure was subsequently referred to the voters, who passed it.

But Hatch credited the Arizona Catholic Conference’s intensive educational efforts with swaying the Catholic vote.

She pointed out that Johnson had helped coordinate the support of the three Catholic bishops of Arizona, who issued a joint statement in support of Proposition 102. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted also recorded a video address urging support from Catholics.

“Happily, the results of these efforts showed a nearly 40 percent positive swing among churchgoing Catholics who ended up voting for Prop. 102 by an 82 to 18 percent margin,” Hatch said.

Fr. Fred Adamson, vicar general and moderator of the Curia, delivered the invocation at the event. He quoted a prayer composed by Pope Pius XII on behalf of the family.

United Families International was created in 1978 to advocate on behalf of the family on the local, state, national and international level. Beverly Rice, UFI president, said the group is involved in educating the public about the value of marriage and family and that “through this program, we are building an army of unified voices in support of the traditional family.”

Seven other local “YES for Marriage” coalition leaders were also honored.