With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA Archdiocese Asks Villanueva Campaign To Nix Ad That Features The Sheriff Praying In A Local Church
The L.A. Archdiocese says a parish priest at St. Alphonsus Church in East L.A. did not have the authority to allow Sheriff Alex Villanueva to film a reelection campaign ad at their location.
(
Kirby Lee
/
AP
)
The Los Angeles Archdiocese is not happy about a controversial new campaign ad that features Sheriff Alex Villanueva inside a local church. The ad shows Villanueva pensively walking inside St. Alphonsus Church in East L.A.
New Voter Game Plan For The November 2022 Elections Coming Soon! Check Back In Early October. Have a question in the meantime? Ask it now, we're here to help.
The sheriff clasps his hands together in prayer as images of turmoil and unrest are projected onto stained glass windows and images of religious figures.
“Lord, give me the strength to protect the public from violent crime ... Give me the humility and patience to not let the naysayers discourage our brave women and men from serving with honor,” Villanueva says in the ad.
Sponsored message
The Villanueva campaign said in an emailed statement that it “received permission to film from St. Alphonsus Church" and that a parish priest "was on set during filming.”
But the Archdiocese says it was not properly informed either by the parish or the Villanueva campaign. According to Archdiocese policy, church property can not be used for candidates’ political campaigns.
In a statement, the Archdiocese says it “requested that the ad be taken down and was assured that it would be removed.”
The controversy around the ad comes as a Villanueva opponent has received considerable financial support, with the Katzenberg Family Trust donating $500,000 to an independent committee formed to back ex-Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna for sheriff. Luna has also been endorsed by The Los Angeles Times.
According to campaign finance filings, $350,000 of that money has gone toward “online and TV advertising.”
Get our election guide: Who's Running For Sheriff And Why It Matters
Sponsored message
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
