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If passed, Proposition 8 will restore the definition of marriage as a union of a man and a woman. On August 1, 2008, the California bishops released their statement saying:

"The issue before us with Proposition 8 is "marriage"—an ancient, yet modern, human institution which pre-exists both Church and government. Marriage, history shows us, is intrinsic to stable, flourishing and hospitable societies. Although cultural differences have occurred, what has never changed is that marriage is the ideal relationship between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and the continuation of the human race..."

Download the entire statement: English | Spanish | Korean |Vietnamese

The staff of the CCC has prepared materials for use in parishes which include:

• Marriage petitions (English and Spanish)
• Teaching documents: (English and Spanish)
• Bulletin announcements (English) inviting parishioners to volunteer for or donate to the Yes on 8 campaign
• Flyers/Bulletin Inserts

To donate to the campaign to pass Proposition 8 go to ProtectMarriage.com.

To volunteer for the official Catholic grassroots effort to pass Proposition 8 go to CatholicsforProtectMarriage.com, a coalition which is led by the Knights of Columbus, the CCC and Catholics for the Common Good.

CATHOLIC BISHOPS SUPPORT PROPOSITION 4

If passed, Proposition 4 would require a minor girl's parents, guardians or-in the case of alleged abuse-a trusted family member be notified 48 hours before her physician performs an abortion. On September 10, 2008, the Catholic bishops released their statement saying:

"Our Catechism teaches that the family is the 'privileged community' wherein children are meant to grow in wisdom, stature and grace. It also counsels us that public authorities should not usurp the family's prerogatives or interfere in its life." 

Download the entire statement: English | Spanish

The staff of the CCC has prepared materials for use in parishes which include:

• Homily reflection: Pro-Life means no 'ifs,' 'ands,' or 'buts' (English and Spanish)
• Flyer/Bulletin Insert: Sensible and Realistic Public Policy (English and Spanish)

CATHOLIC BISHOPS OPPOSE PROPOSITION 6

If passed, Proposition 6 would make approximately 30 revisions to California criminal law-including the creation of multiple new crimes and additional penalties-some with the potential for new life sentences; it could also curtail the participation of nonprofit organizations in community councils that determine county-level policy for juvenile justice. On September 15, 2008, the Catholic bishops released their statement saying:

"As bishops, we seek justice, not vengeance. We seek a type of justice which addresses crime in terms of harm done to victims and communities, not simply as a violation of law. We seek a type of justice which holds people who commit crimes accountable, but encourages victims to forgive, so that there can be healing. The type of justice we seek is 'restorative justice.'"

Download their entire statement: English | Spanish

On September 26, 2008 at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' annual Public Policy Breakfast, Cardinal Mahony advocated a "no" vote on Proposition 6, saying that faith values need to underpin the justice system for it to be more effective. "Punishment alone does not change a person. Punishment must have a constructive purpose based on human life and dignity."
Read the story in the Tidings

CCC TAKES "NO POSITION" ON PROPOSITIONS 5 & 9

Mr. Ned Dolejsi, Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference, explains why the bishops chose not to take a position on either Proposition 5 or Proposition 9, saying:

"It is important to remember that California has a thriving 'initiative' industry and that the bishops are invited to support and/or oppose many measures. The role of the bishops-either individually or acting together as a conference-is to teach on matters of faith and morals in order to assist Catholics to form consciences and put their faith in action as faithful citizens. When an initiative qualifies for the ballot, the bishops consider the moral significance of the issue, the actual ballot language and the political viability of the campaign to pass it."

Read their statement:           English | Spanish

Download their statement:    English | Spanish

"The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest."

Pope Benedict XVI
Deus Caritas Est
No. 28 (2005)

CCC-PREPARED SUMMARY OF BALLOT PROPOSITIONS

The California Catholic Conference has prepared a brief summary of the text and the arguments of the proponents and opponents of the 12 propositions which will appear on the ballot for California's November 4, 2008 General Election.

For your convenience and easy reference, several excerpts from Catholic Social Teaching are highlighted in this document. The bishops ask that you prayerfully consider your vote on these propositions in light of Catholic teaching.

Read or download the entire summary.

CALIFORNIA BUDGET PASSED-FINALLY!

On September 15, the Legislature embarked on a marathon session in an attempt to end the longest budget impasse in California's history. A deal was finally "crafted" by the Democratic and Republican leaders of both houses and rushed to a vote "in the middle of the night." The following day, many representatives admitted they had little understanding on what had actually passed. Almost immediately, the Governor announced that he was planning to veto this final Legislative compromise because of a disagreement with the lawmakers on the use of the "rainy-day fund" for debt repayment and on the plan to force individuals and businesses to accelerate their tax payments. With that veto pending, the Legislative leaders and the Governor met in yet another attempt to find a compromise. On Thursday, September 18, a final version was announced and on September 23, 2008 the Governor signed it into law.

The 2008-2009 budget still relies on spending cuts and accounting maneuvers, but the accelerated tax payments were replaced with boosting penalties on corporations who underreport their taxes and stricter rules were put in place on tapping the "rainy-day" fund.

The final budget includes:

• A total of $10.3 billion in spending reductions—including $3.3 billion in cuts to base K-14 education spending, deep cuts to the CalWORKs Program and extension Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rate cuts.
• One modest tax change—requiring boats, vehicles and aircraft to be kept out of state for at least 12 months after purchase (instead of previous three months) to avoid payment of the use tax.
• Limits on the Governor's ability to suspend transfers into the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF) and restrictions on the use of fund therein.

The bishops are very concerned that public policy in California does not serve the poor and the vulnerable—those who need the help of government the most. For instance, in the budget, most of the cuts were to health, human services and education programs. Among those are:

• The extension of the 10 percent reduction to reimbursement payments for Medi-Cal and other health care providers through February 2009.
• The elimination of $2.7 million for Naturalization Services Program (NSP) which provided funding for community-based organizations that help legal permanent residents to become United States citizens. This cut will severely impact our Catholic Charities agencies.
• The suspension of the October 2008 cost of living adjustment (COLA) for CalWORKs grants for low-income families with children-the fourth consecutive year the COLA has been suspended.
• A $70 million cut to funding that counties use to provide child care and help CalWORKs parents find and maintain employment.
• The suspension of the October 2008 and June 2009 state COLAs for SSI/SSP grants, which help low-income seniors and people with disabilities meet basic needs.
• The reduction of the "base" K-14 education spending by $3.3 billion.

FINAL REPORT ON MAJOR & SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION

Posted on our website is the final report on the "fate" of those bills identified by the California Catholic Conference as "major and/or significant." Read or download the report.

The year 2008 was unremarkable when it comes to CCC Legislative accomplishments. At our Catholic Lobby Day we featured the budget (signed historically late containing many cuts to health, human services and education) and four bills. Of those four, three which we supported failed to become law and the one we opposed was signed into law. Following is the retrospective.

 SB 1555 (Kuehl, D-Santa Monica), Older prisoners, failed to pass its House of Originand was dead as of May 30, 2008.

 AB 2262 (Torrico, D-Fremont) Child protection: safe surrender passage, passed the Legislature but was again vetoed by the Governor. The CCC supported the bill which increased the acceptable age of the "abandoned" infant to seven days from the current law which is 72 hours. The Governor's rationale for the veto: "I have vetoed similar measures twice before and there is no new data or information to support a change in my position. California's Safe Surrender Law is carefully crafted to provide an emergency alternative to a woman in crisis while also preserving the fundamental rights of a child."

 AB 2844 (Laird, D-Santa Cruz) Public social services: CalWORKs and the Food Stamp Program: redetermination and recertification, passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the Governor. The CCC supported the bill which would have eliminated much of the red tape involved in securing food stamps. The Governor's message: "Due to the immediate cost of implementing the provisions of this bill and our budget crisis, I am unable to support this bill."

 AB 2747 (Berg, D-Eureka) End-of-life care, passed the Legislature and was signed into law by the Governor. The CCC worked with the coalition, Californians Against Assisted Suicide, to remove the most egregious parts-but did not remove its opposition to the bill. A CCC commentary on the passage of AB 2747 can be found here.

COMMENTARY ON CALIFORNIA'S 2008 PUBLIC POLICY

  The year that was-2008: Nationally-an interminable presidential campaign and economic downturn. Statewide-increased unemployment, decreased tax revenues, fantasy budgets, small-minded legislation and inexplicable bill-signing and bill-vetoing.

This calendar year, Governor Schwarzenegger set a record-vetoing bills. Of the 1,187 bills that reached his desk, he vetoed 415-nearly 35 percent. For 136 of those bills, he appended his "generic" veto message: "The historic delay in passing the 2008-2009 State Budget has forced me to prioritize he bills sent to my desk at the end of the year's legislative session. Given the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest priority for California."

The Governor's decisions to veto or sign bills seem to be either random or an echo of the budget cuts-the poor and the vulnerable are not treated with the dignity and respect we expect from responsible government officials. Following are some examples we find particularly distressing.

• Since 1999, Compassion & Choices (formerly the Hemlock Society) has sponsored repeated attempts to pass legislation in California to legalize assisted suicide—all of which failed. In 2008, they lowered their goal to passing a "Right to Know" bill about end-of-life care. In the menu of options to be discussed with a patient who received a terminal illness diagnosis were VSED (voluntary stopping of eating and drinking) and palliative sedation (a rarely used medical treatment administered to relieve intractable pain when a person is actively dying). With bipartisan support, those two "suggestions" were stripped from the bill, AB 2747, as inappropriate topicsvwhich left a piece of legislation which mandates physicians to do what they already do (have discussions with their patients) and adds unnecessary confusion in the law. It may also be setting up a platform for the eventual legalization of assisted suicide. The bill passed narrowly with bipartisan opposition in both houses. Yet, the Governor signed AB 2747—which clearly did not fit his criteria of the "highest priority for California.
• After words of encouragement to immigrant students ("California is the state with the greatest opportunity—so the only obstacle is your mind"), Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1301, the California Dream Act, which would have allowed undocumented students in the process of regularization who qualified for in-state tuition due to previous legislation, to also qualify for financial aid. His veto message: "I share the author's goal of making affordable education available to all California students, but given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources..." For many poor immigrant students, the "dream" of attending a California college is unattainable without the student loans that other California residents can access.
• SB 1565, passed almost unanimously by the Legislature, would have guaranteed "uninsured Californians access to any drug that results from research funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)," the organization given life upon the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004. The proponents of Proposition 71 had made just such a promise during their campaign. The Governor vetoed the bill, which was a modest attempt to rein in the activities of the CIRM, saying that it "does nothing to advance the will of over seven million voters." Not ironically, to date; the accomplishments of the CIRM are "Cadillac" buildings to house scientists and administrators who are paid "limousine" salaries. Once again, the poor were not considered.

CATHOLIC LEGISLATIVE NETWORK (CLN)

Using an email alert system the CLN highlights legislation, regulations and other issues in California, the nation and the world on which Catholics may want to take action. The CLN provides information on the relevant Catholic teaching and encourages participants to email, call or write their legislators or other officials.

To learn more or to join go to the Catholic Legislative Network.

Conference Staff

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