Pro-life ‘Imagine’ adoption ad approved to run during ‘American Idol’

Washington D.C., May 11, 2009 / 15:26 pm

A new pro-life video listing famous people who have been adopted has received initial acceptance for broadcast on the closing episode of "American Idol."

The ad, produced by CatholicVote.org as part of its "Imagine the Potential" series, shows people such as John Lennon, Nelson Mandela, Babe Ruth, Nancy Reagan, Bill Clinton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sarah McLachlan, Steve Jobs, and Jesse Jackson.

Asking what such different people have in common, the ad answers that they were all adopted.

It closes with the tagline "Life: Imagine the Potential" and shows the website of CatholicVote.org.

The previous entry in the series featured an ultrasound of a baby in the womb. The ad said the baby will grow up in a broken home but despite hardships will become the first African-American president. A picture of President Barack Obama was then displayed.

The first ad was initially accepted to run the 2009 Super Bowl but was later rejected by NBC officials on the grounds it involved political candidates or issues. The ad ran on Black Entertainment Television during its January 21 coverage of President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

It was viewed more than 1.8 million times on YouTube.

Speaking at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Friday, EWTN host Raymond Arroyo announced that the video received "initial acceptance" to be broadcast on the closing episode of the Fox Network’s singing competition "American Idol."