By Michael Motes

Approximately 30 letters protesting the rebroadcast of the controversial two-part episode of ‘Maude’ dealing with abortion have been received by Paul Raymon, vice president and general manager of WAGA-TV, the CBS Television Network’s Atlanta affiliate.

The letters were sent at the request of Father Joseph A. Sanches, assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Father Sanches, in a letter to the pastors of the archdiocese, cited a letter from Bishop James Rausch, general secretary of the National Council of Catholic Bishops, to bishops throughout the country seeking their cooperation in opposing the rebroadcast of the television program.

(The first segment of the two-part episode was seen in Atlanta on WAGA-TV last Tuesday night. Part two will be televised August 21.)

According to Raymon, all those who wrote the station protesting the telecast will receive a reply.

“We have not yet prepared a reply to the letters we have received,” Raymon said. “Everyone who takes the time to write WAGA and express their views receives a reply from the station.”

In his letter to the pastors, Father Sanches wrote: “The reason for this opposition and the need for Catholic solidarity is explained by the fact that this two-part sequel is emphatically pro-abortion and fosters a very sympathetic pro-abortion mentality which is to be aired during prime time. The letter from Bishop Rausch urges pastors to sponsor opposition to this showing and recommends that they seek the aid of their parishioners in this effort.

“In order to participate in this endeavor, it is strongly recommended that each pastor ask at least five families in his parish to write to the Atlanta CBS affiliate, WAGA-TV, and voice opposition to the re-programming of ‘Maude’ and its pro-abortion content.”

According to a wire story from NC News Service, only 30 seconds of advertising time had been purchased for the two-part episode as of Friday, August 10. Three minutes are allotted for advertising during each 30-minute episode.

In New York, Norman Lear, executive producer of the series, said that “apparent pressure from anti-abortion forces” had persuaded sponsors to stay away from the abortion episodes.

“This proves there’s a certain degree of cowardice in the American business community,” Lear said. “A few letters from pressure groups can make advertisers panic.”

Raymon, however, stated that the letters received at WAGA would not deter the station from broadcasting the program.

Cities in which CBS affiliates have refused to carry the controversial shows are Green Bay, Wis.; Boston; Baton Rouse, La.; Evansville, Ind.; Quincy, Ill.; Rochester, N.Y.; Milwaukee; Indianapolis; New Orleans; Peoria, Ill.; Champaign-Urbana, Ill.; Albany, N.Y.; South Bend, Ind.; Seattle, Wash.; Erie, Pa.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Omaha, Neb., and Fargo, Dickinson, Bismarch, Minot, and Williston, S.D.

CBS affiliates in Phoenix and Tuscon, Ariz, have said that they will delay the broadcasts until 10:30 p.m. The show is usually seen at 7 p.m. in those cities. There had been some criticism of the show because it was broadcast when many children are watching.

The Mormon Church, which owns the CBS affiliates in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Seattle, Wash., sent a letter to the director of information for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City saying that the Mormons support the U.S. Catholic Conference in its stand against the ‘Maude’ abortion shows.

Mormon president Harold B. Lee said, “We are standing side by side with you on this issue.”