The Diocese of San Bernardino joined a statewide Catholic effort in February and March to gather signatures for both the Parental Notification Initiative and the SAFE California Initiative, which would eliminate the death penalty in California. SAFE California received enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
“We trust that this experience was spiritually fruitful, even though, when all was said and done, only one of the initiatives became politically viable,” Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, president of the California Catholic Conference, said in a statement. “Such citizen efforts can offer unique teaching moments about the intersection of public policy and Catholic teaching.
“We would like to add our sincere thanks for all the work and dedication that went into this effort to protect children and affirm parental responsibility.”