Reverence for Life
Human Dignity
Restorative Justice
Education
Family Life & Marriage
Religious Liberty

Reverence for Life

We hold life sacred from conception to natural death. We support policies and services that assist pregnant women to make life-affirming choices.
Human Dignity

We believe that each person has a right to access the basic necessities of life. We advocate for food and income security for all and pay special attention to the needs of women and children.
Restorative Justice

We believe that the dignity of the human person applies to both victim and offender. We advocate for restorative justice policies for all impacted by the criminal justice system.
Education

We support—as a matter of justice—access to a high quality education for all children. We affirm that all parents have both the right and the responsibility to be involved in their childrens' education.
Family Life & Marriage

We support and defend the institution of marriage as the basic foundation of society. We advocate for tax, workplace, welfare and divorce policies that enhance family unity
Religious Liberty

We affirm our religious liberty, which is guaranteed in both the U.S. Constitution and the California state constitution.

October Is Respect Life Month

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I came that all might have life, and have it to the full!

The Respect Life Program begins anew each year on Respect Life Sunday, the first Sunday in October. The program is highlighted in liturgies and marked by special events.

The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities publishes a program packet each year to call attention to numerous human life issues. These materials, available here, http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/respect-life-program/, are especially helpful for priests, parish groups and other organizations.

This year's Respect Life Program takes us back to the basics. Eight pamphlets, which are all accessible as pdfs which can be used as bulletin inserts, discuss the main attacks on human life and dignity.

They are entitled: Life Matters—with the subject following, and are available in both English and Spanish:

Abortion
The Death Penalty
Persons with Disabilities
Reproductive Technologies
Embryo Research
Love and Marriage
To the End of Our Days
Contraception

For on-going information on Respect Life issues, read the Life Issues Forum bi-weekly columns from the USCCB, http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/life-issues-forum/. Recent subjects include:

"Stop the New Attack on Conscience Rights" by Richard Doerflinger
"Analysis of 22 Studies Confirms: Abortion Harms Women's Mental Health" by Susan Wills
"Selective Reduction: A Morality Tale" by Susan Wills
"Support Life, However Conceived" by Mary McClusky
"The High Costs of 'Free' Birth Control" by Richard Doerflinger
"More than Tax Dollars at Stake" by Kim Baker
"Hemlock's Twisted Logic" by Richard Doerflinger
"RIP, Doctor Death" by Deirdre McQuade

About

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The California Catholic Conference (CCC) is the official voice of the Catholic community in California's public policy arena. Its mission is to advocate with the legislative, administrative and judicial branches of state government for the Catholic Church's public policy agenda and to facilitate common pastoral efforts in the Catholic community. The CCC also enables ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and action.

Catholic Social Teaching

The newest statement from the California Catholic Conference is In Search of the Common Good: A Moral Framework for Addressing the California Budget Crisis. In the statement, the Bishops examine the moral and ethical questions raised by California's ongoing fiscal crisis and our shared responsibility for each other.

Find statements from the California Bishops here.
Every four years the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) encourages us to examine our call to be engaged in public policy decisions. Catholics generally take their participation in their communities seriously, but have become just as susceptible to the 30-second sound bite and fear-inducing pundits as the next person.

Read more here.
Catholic social teaching brings the Gospel message to the issues of our modern world. It is summarized here with introductions to each of the social encyclicals since Rerum Novarum in 1891; seven seven themes used to group the various teaching - starting with the right to life as the most important; and an in-depth look at Charity in Truth, written by Pope Benedict XVI.