Archbishop José Gomez and the Catholic Bishops of California encourage you to promote the passing of Proposition 34 which is on the ballot in November. Prop 34 is the initiative that will replace the death penalty in California with life in prison without the possibility of parole. The bishops see this as an important moral and life issue.

Proposition 34, SAFE CALIFORNIA supports legislation to replace the death penalty for a capital crime with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and to use some of the related cost savings to create a fund to solve open murder and rape cases.

The use of the death penalty in California is unnecessary,impractical, expensive and risks the execution of innocent persons. The dignity of the human person is foundational to all morality. As Catholics, we hold human life as sacred. In the exercise of justice, we work to ensure that this principle permeates social policy for all lives, even of those who have caused grave harm to the community. We have long held that the use of the death penalty is no longer necessary to protect the community. Proposition 34 will help bring these vital moral values to the exercise of justice.

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