Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad continues to cause stir
Whether or not I’m interested in the big game, I’m always a little curious about the ads designed to grab our attention come Super Bowl Sunday.
In these days leading up to the game, a “pro-life” ad featuring Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s mother Pam (pictured at right with Tim in a 2009 AP photo) continues to provoke some folks who are angry with CBS for agreeing to give it some air time on Sunday.
That’s right, it hasn’t aired yet but it’s causing a stir.
Several news releases on the topic are being sent out via the Christian Newswire every day. The New York Times has written an opinion piece on the issue and today I learned that the NFL is being pressured by some “pro-choice” advocacy groups to demand that CBS drop the ad.
Apparently the ad in question is sponsored by the Christian organization Focus on the Family. It reportedly features Pam Tebow telling about her decision not to follow a doctor’s advice to terminate her pregnancy when she was pregnant with son Tim. The doc reportedly gave this advice because of her difficult pregnancy and illness.
The National Organization for Women is one of the ”pro-choice” group that is incensed that CBS still plans to run the ad.
“Make no mistake about this ad: it’s offensive to women. Yes, it features Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, who had been advised to have an abortion after a serious illness. Standing alone, it sends the message that all women who give birth are heroes; it sends a message that abortion is always a mistake; and it is insulting to the one in three women in this country who have abortions,” Erin Matson, NOW Action vice president, wrote in a posting on the organization’s Say It Sister blog.
Matson said CBS is accomodating Focus on the Family after previously denying ads from the United Church of Christ which depicted “a welcome environment for same sex couples.”
Meanwhile, several pro-life or anti-abortion organizations, are trying to counter opposition to the ad.
Catholic Families for America has started a petition in favor of the Tebow ad.
“It doesn’t take long for the pro-abortion crowd to mobilized their members so those of us on the pro-life side need to be sure we do the same,” Kevin Roberts, executive director of the Catholic grassroots advocacy group, said in a news release.
What are your thoughts? Should CBS run the ad?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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