DATE: July 26, 2001

                                                                   NEWS RELEASE
                                                                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                                         For More Information, Contact:
                                                                                         Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
                                                                                          bbunce@archdpdx.org

BILLBOARD NEAR MEDFORD IS OFFENSIVE

        A new billboard alongside Interstate 5 near Medford reads, "The pope is the
antichrist." For Catholics, and many other Oregonians, this billboard is bigoted and
offensive. This is not the first time that such billboards have popped up in western
Oregon and most often in southern Oregon. The Archdiocese of Portland has decided
to speak out against this continued anti-Catholic bigotry. "We stand by the right to free
speech, but no one has the right to issue blanket attacks against a community of faith"
said Mary Jo Tully, Chancellor and Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs director for the
Archdiocese of Portland.

        The billboard is owned by Outdoor Media Dimensions of Medford. Catholics are
asking that the message on this billboard be removed. At this time, calls from the
Archdiocese of Portland to Outdoor Media Dimensions have not been returned.
Catholics in the western Oregon will be encouraged in this week's Catholic Sentinel to
call Outdoor Media Dimensions to express their opinion and ask that the offensive
message be removed.

        The billboard message is sponsored by a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist
Remnant Ministries, Larry Weathers. This small renegade group is disowned by the
mainline Seventh-Day Adventists in Oregon. Similar anti-Catholic billboards have
appeared in western Oregon over the past eight years. Mary Jo Tully said, "from these
groups we ask for an end to diatribes and a beginning to a shared mission to live out
Gospel values."

        The Archdiocese of Portland believes that this is a matter that goes beyond the
issue of free speech. "While it may be legal, it cannot be morally justified," said Tully.
Freedoms intended to promote the common good, understanding and tolerance are
being used to promote bias and discrimination. Catholics and non-Catholics have called
the Archdiocese of Portland to indicate disgust at seeing the billboard asserting that it is
not only offensive, but reflects poorly on all Oregonians. "It certainly lowers the
standard of civility in Oregon," said Mary Jo Tully. It is a matter that goes beyond free
enterprise, because Outdoor Media Dimensions has a right to say "no" to offensive and
bigoted advertisements, just as other media outlets have such policies.

        The Archdiocese of Portland is asking that the billboard be removed. It is
offensive to Catholics, an abuse of the freedoms that we cherish and is insulting to all
Oregonians of good will.
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