Social Concerns Column for June 3, 2012

But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. -- Amos 5:24

Bishop Cordileone Endorses SAFE California Act as Pro-Life. 
The SAFE California Act (www.safecalifornia.org) will replace California’s death penalty with a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole as the maximum punishment for murder.  This means convicted killers will remain behind bars forever – with no risk of the State of California executing an innocent person.  The sentence of life imprisonment will save millions of tax payer dollars.  Please visit the website, sign the petition, and spread the word.  For information on the national level, visit the USCCB’s Campaign to End the Death Penalty at: http://old.usccb.org/deathpenalty

Volunteers Needed to Promote SAFE California Act in Livermore
www.safecalifornia.org

The California Bishops need volunteers in every diocese and parish to help promote the SAFE California Act that will be on the November ballot.  We need volunteers.  You can choose how much time to spend, including, learning about SAFE, promoting SAFE within our parish, holding informational meetings on SAFE, sharing SAFE on Facebook and across the Internet to your California friends and family.  Interested?  Please call Joanne, 443-1422.

A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death: 
"Ending the death penalty would be one important step away from a culture of death and toward building a culture of life.” -- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005

US Bishops on Everyday Christianity for the Laity:
The Catholic social mission is  also carried forward by believers who join unions, neighborhood organizations, business groups, civic associations, the pro-life movement, groups working for justice, or environmental, civil rights or peace groups. It is advanced by Christians who stand up for the values of the Gospel. This mission is the task of countless Christians living their faith without much fanfare or recognition, who are quietly building a better society by their choices and actions day by day. They protect human life, defend those who are poor, seek the common good, work for peace, and promote human dignity.  -- USCCB, Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice, http://tinyurl.com/HungerThirstJustice

Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'--Zechariah 7:9