While we celebrate this decision - the culmination of prayer and decades of legislative advocacy, life-affirming events, committing time and resources to pregnancy centers, and walking with families facing an unplanned pregnancy – in many ways, our work has just begun.
California Bishops' Statements
Major Pastoral Letters and Statements
Bishops Working for Better Futures for CA Women and Families
California Bishops Commit to Working for Better Futures for California’s Women, Children, and Families — The approaching 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade comes at a historic moment. The nation stands on the precipice of potentially overturning Roe v. Wade. At the same time, the Governor and state legislators have issued calls to make California a “sanctuary” destination for women seeking abortions from in and out of state. At this pivotal moment, the Bishops of the Dioceses of California are committed to a vision for our state that honors women with life-affirming support and practical resources so that all families can thrive, and so that no woman feels trapped into the devastating decision to end a life by abortion.
God Calls Us All to Care for Our Common Home - 2019 (Environment)
God Calls Us All to Care for Our Common Home - Our state’s great beauty and bounty has stirred the spirits of generations to act on behalf of environmental protection and for the justice that ensures the integrity of the land and its people. For these reasons, the Bishops of California find it both fitting and necessary to reflect on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and its message of care for God’s creation.
Recommended Resources for God Calls Us All to Care for Our Common Home
Hope and Healing - 2018 (Mental Health)
Hope and Healing - As pastors and bishops, we understand that mental health is a critical component of wellbeing. Therefore, ministering to those who suffer from mental illness is an essential part of the pastoral care of the Church. This letter represents a statement by Catholic pastors, in consultation with those who suffer from mental illness, their families and loved ones, health care practitioners, and other caregivers. We acknowledge and thank our collaborators—patients, families, mental health professionals, and pastoral care workers—who assisted with this statement.
PDF – English, Spanish or Vietnamese
Study Guide – English
Our Catholic Schools in California- 2016 (Education)
Our Catholic Schools in California: A Stellar Past, A Robust Future - Our California Catholic schools have a stellar past, and they have been a substantial resource, not only for the Church, but for society as a whole. As we commit ourselves to support and promote our statewide network of Catholic schools, let all of us – clergy, laity, state and civic leaders – remember the blessing and gift that Catholic schools have been for generations of students, many of whom were newly arrived immigrants with dreams and hopes for a better future. They were educated by modern saints, primarily women religious, whose tireless effort and dedication ensured that their students grew strong in faith and intellect, and led lives of leadership and service to the common good.
In Search of the Common Good- 2008 (Economy)
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The Bishops of CA commit to a vision that honors women with life-affirming support and practical resources so that all families can thrive
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you,’
nor again the head to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’” (I Cor. 12.21)
Videos of unprovoked assaults on elder Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI), arson at a Chinese church and, literally, thousands of racist and violent incidents against Asian women in only the past year, are a horrible and shameful scar upon our society. The California Catholic Conference of Bishops call for an end to violence and discrimination as we stand in solidarity with our AAPI brothers and sisters as well as all victims of racial prejudice. May God protect them, console them and keep them safe.
“In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings striking down unreasonable restrictions on indoor public worship and the issuance of new guidelines by Governor Newsom removing legal mandates restricting worship, the Catholic Bishops of California remain committed to the complete resumption of indoor worship in a responsible and safe manner."
In conjunction with the commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Catholic bishops of California have released a new pastoral resource to help guide pastors in ministering to victims of violent crime.
Despite several recent U.S. Supreme Court and 9th Circuit rulings questioning the constitutionality of restrictions on indoor worship in churches, California remains the only state in the Union that does not allow some reasonable accommodation for people to worship inside.
In the Gospel of Luke (5:17-26) the friends of a paralytic man bring him to Jesus for healing. The crowds are so great that they must dismantle the roof to lower their suffering friend before Jesus who then heals the paralytic. During this pandemic, we have the opportunity to serve in a similar way. It is in that spirit of friendship and solidarity, the California Catholic Conference, Catholic health care systems and hospitals in California, Catholic Charities and other health-related ministries issued the following statement:
The California Catholic Conference of Bishops opposes Proposition 20 on the grounds that it threatens to overturn the important criminal justice reforms advanced by Propositions 47 and 57.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Church in California has supported and cooperated with public officials’ efforts to contain the spread of this deadly disease, including closing our schools and suspending public worship.
Bishops across the state of California are responding to the recent events in light of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.