The Diocese of San Bernardino had joined in the statewide effort to put the law on the November 2016 ballot, collecting more than 11,000 signature petitions at diocesan events and parish Masses the first three weekends of December. The state required 366,000 validated signatures by January 1 in order to qualify for the November ballot.
“We deeply regret that we were unable at the state level to present this issue of life and human dignity before voters,” said Marie Widmann, Director of the Diocesan Office of Pro Life Catholic Ministries. “But it was a very valuable experience in that it raised awareness with the average Catholic.”
The Bishops of California, in a prepared statement, encouraged further work to defend the vulnerable.
“Physician-assisted suicide is one of the many ways our society is gradually placing individual autonomy as the ultimate measure of public policies,” said Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento, President of the California Catholic Conference. “This is a grave mistake and a trend that we as Catholics must consistently and firmly question.”
He cited Pope Francis’ criticism of ideologies that weaken social bonds and fuel a “throwaway” mentality that “leads to contempt for, and the abandonment of, the weakest and those considered ‘useless.’ “
On Oct. 5, 2015 Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law an assisted suicide bill that enabled doctors to prescribe drugs that will end the lives of patients whom doctors diagnose as having six months to live. The bill had been withdrawn from the State Senate but was revived in a special legislative session. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 23-14, while the State Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 42-33.
Bishop Soto said that assisted suicide opponents’ efforts during the regular session had stopped the advance of the bill.
“It was only through the manipulation of the legislative process that the bill eventually passed,” he said. “The initial defeat of the law – as well as the thousands of signatures gathered in the referendum effort – demonstrate that when the dangers of physician-assisted suicide are allowed to be properly aired, the concept is soundly rejected.”
He said the Catholic bishops would continue to work with the anti-assisted suicide coalition and with others “to explore ways of protecting the most vulnerable Californians from the pressure created by this new policy.”
Widmann said the assisted suicide law has laid bare the need for Catholics to focus on end-of-life issues.
“We have an obligation to reach out with love, compassion and practical help to those who are facing serious illness and possibly the end of their life,” she said.