Church-goers attending service in the next few weeks may find that in addition to a spiritual message, Priests may be inclined to serve up a lesson in civics.
For example, when I exited the Good Shepherd Church in Beverly Hills this morning, a perky young volunteer handed me a flier, urging me to vote YES on Proposition 34 in the upcoming election in November.
According to the organizers, here are the facts to consider when casting your ballot:
17 other U.S. States have abolished the Death Penalty
In the U.S. 140 innocent women & men have been freed from death row since 1973
$4 Billion has been spent on 13 executions in CA since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978.
Each execution costs $308 million – about 20 times the cost of a trial for life without parole.
What does the Catholic faith say about the Death Penalty?
Pope Paul II
“Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitely denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made…to end the death penalty which is both cruel and unnecessary.
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
“Case in which the execution of an offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.”
Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ:
“Allowing our Government to kill citizens compromises the deepest moral values upon which this country was conceived: the inviolable dignity of human persons.”
What can you do?
Vote your conscience in November!
Vote your wallet!
Vote to reduce the death penalty with life in prison without parole!
Vote YES on November 6th on Proposition #34!
Amen!
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