Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. --Psalm 82:3
Catholic Bishops Speak Out On Ballot Propositions:
Read their positions and their reasoning based in the Bible and Catholic Social Teaching at www.cacatholic.org
California Bishops' Top 10 Reasons for YES on Prop 34 to End Death Penalty:
1. Cain and Abel. When Cain killed Abel and was exiled, he wasn’t killed. In fact the “Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.” Genesis 4
2. Casting Stones. When Jesus was asked about the death penalty for the woman caught in adultery, he simply said, “Let the man among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her.” John 8
3. United States Bishops Call for End. In 1980 the Roman Catholic Bishops of the United States called for ending the use of the death penalty in our country.
4. US Courts Not Infallible. Since 1973, there have been 140 inmates released from death row because they have been proven to be innocent. Three were in California.
5. Death is Expensive. The California death penalty system costs taxpayers $185 million per year beyond the costs of keeping convicts locked up for life.
6-10. Read more at California Bishops' website at: http://tinyurl.com/TopTenProLife
California Bishops Say Prop 34 is Pro-Life.
"Pope John Paul II wrote “The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil.” Archbishop Jose Gomez and the Catholic Bishops of California have decided to promote passing Proposition 34 that will replace the death penalty in California with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Please join them in passing this important pro-life proposition." Read more from our bishops at http://tinyurl.com/TopTenProLife
California Bishops Support Prop 35 - Human Trafficking Initiative.
Bishop Wilkerson says: “Human trafficking, which involves the enslaving of individuals in order to use them for financial gain, is an intolerable affront to human dignity. As Catholics, we are called to listen to the wisdom of Pope Paul VI, 'Whatever is opposed to life itself, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, whatever insults humanity—such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution -- all these things poison human society. Moreover, they are a supreme dishonor to the Creator.’" Read more at: www.cacatholic.org
Prop. 34 proponents are perpetuating a huge FRAUD against California voters, knowing that with the millions of out-of-state dollars they can repeat their lies enough times that voters will begin to accept them. A Study by Judicial Watch concludes that Prop. 34 is “both disingenuous and deceptive.” Three former CA governors and every major law enforcement group in CA OPPOSE Pro. 34.
ReplyDeletePro. 34 is dangerous, will cost taxpayers more, and was poorly thought through.
Prop. 34 will NOT save money, but instead COST TAXPAYERS BILLIONS of dollars more in additional trials, prison changes, and escalating health care costs.
Claims that Prop. 34 will save money are based upon a paper written by a former judge who has been advocating for abolishing the death penalty for decades (biased and inaccurate). A review of these numbers by the Legislative Analyst’s Office concludes that the assumptions supporting these claimed savings “may well be wrong.” Michael Genest, former State Of California Finance Director, found that these “savings claims are grossly exaggerated.” Also, the loss of the threat of the death penalty will substantially increase the total number of murder trials by taking away a major incentive for murderers to plead guilty.
Prop. 34 ignores the escalating costs of medical care for life-time inmates. Prop. 34 will cost CA taxpayers billions more over the next several years. (It is these huge medical costs that are fueling the attack on life sentences under 3-strikes under Prop. 36.)
Prop. 34 is DANGEROUS. Experts conclude that Pro. 34 will increase the number of murders in California. Criminals will be more brazen in their crimes without the death penalty. Also, there will be no deterrent for the 34,000 inmates already serving life from killing a guard or an inmate. They are already serving the maximum penalty.
One of the key methods for “saving” money under Prop. 34 is to move death row inmates into the general population and house them from single-person cells with other inmates. One strong proponent of Prop. 34 admits this is unworkable– the risk of danger posed by mixing the prison population is too great, and would increase costs associated with such an arrangement.
Life without parole is means they WILL GET OUT. Efforts are already being pursued by the same people supporting anti-punishment ballots and legislation to get rid of life sentences. (Human Rights Watch, Old Behind Bars, 2012.) On 9/30/12, Brown passed the first step, signing a bill to allow 309 inmates with life sentences for murder to be paroled after serving 25 years. Someone who has committed a brutal murder at age 20 could get out by age 45! Governors are also notorious for releasing inmates who should never be released. Convicted killers get out and kill again, such as Darryl Thomas Kemp, Kenneth Allen McDuff, and Bennie Demps.
ARGUMENTS OF INNOCENCE BOGUS. Proponents can’t identify one innocent person executed in CA. They can’t identify one person on CA’s death row who has exhausted his appeals and has a plausible claim of innocence. Quite simply, CA’s appellate process, designed by the very same people promoting Prop. 34, is 100% effective in weeding out the innocent. Every person Prop. 34 proponents refer to are either non-death-penalty cases or out-of-state cases where defendants do not get the benefit of CA’s appellate process.
Don’t get fooled by the bombardment of lies. See cadeathpenalty.webs. com and voteno34. org for more facts explaining why you should NOT SUPPORT Prop. 34.
Prop. 34 will kill innocent people:
ReplyDeleteThose on death row murdered at least 1,279 people, including 230 children & 43 police officers. 211 were raped, 319 robbed, 66 killed by execution, & 47 tortured. 11 murdered other inmates.
A jury of 12 people & a judge confirmed for each inmate that their crimes were so atrocious and they were so dangerous that they not only did not deserve to live, but they were so dangerous that the only safe recourse was the death penalty. Recognizing how dangerous these killers are, the prison houses them 1 person to a cell and does not provide them with work, leaving them locked in their cells most of the day.
Prop. 34 wants to ignore all of this and save $ by placing these killers in less-restrictive prisons where they share cells. They also want to provide them opportunities for work, where they have more freedom, access to other inmates and guards, & more chances to make weapons.
Prop. 34 also destroys any incentive for the 34,000 inmates already serving life without parole to kill again. There would be no death penalty. They are already serving a life sentence, so why not get a name by killing another inmate or a guard?
Prop. 34 also takes away the money for inmates to challenge their convictions. If innocent, they will spend the rest of their life in jail, celled with vicious killers. Prop. 34 will cause more deaths of innocent people– guards and people wrongfully convicted but no longer able to fight it in court.
And they refer to Prop. 34 as the SAFE Act!