CA Catholic Bishops Salute 'SAFE California' Campaign
800,000 Signatures Collected To Replace the Death Penalty in November
March 1, 2012 - The California Catholic Conference of Bishops (CCCB) supported efforts to assure there will be a proposition on California’s November 2012 ballot to replace the death penalty with the sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Excerpts from CCCB statement:
As Catholics, we hold human life as sacred. In the exercise of justice, this principle must prevail in the manner we treat one another, even for those who have done grave harm. Justice requires proportionate and effective means in the protection of society. As citizens, we find the use of the death penalty unnecessary, impractical and expensive.
The November 2012 general election has given our Church a unique opportunity to publicly advocate for the life and dignity of every human person.
“We were pleased to have participated in this effort by encouraging our parishioners to collect signatures and are gratified that we could join the many other individuals and groups who helped the sponsors of this initiative. We would like to personally thank all the Catholic volunteers who stepped forward and worked hard on the effort."
- Most Rev. Gerald Wilkerson, auxiliary bishop for the San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and President of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops
The California Catholic Bishops, the National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the California Province of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative, the National Council of Catholic Women, Just Faith, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Pax Christi, the Community of Sant' Egidio and the Presentations Sisters have all endorsed SAFE CA.
To find out more about endorsing or volunteering for SAFE CA please visit: www.safecalifornia.org
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