In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Catholics are fortunate that our religious leaders have recognized that a call to support life includes a consideration of the seamless garment of life from the “moment of conception to the moment of natural death.” That is why during Support Life Sunday (October 7) parishes throughout the archdiocese will roll out information about Proposition 34, an initiative supported by the Bishops of California.What is Proposition 34?It is an initiative supported by a broad coalition of California groups, spearheaded by SAFE California, to end the death penalty in the State of California. Proposition 34 will replace any sentence of death with a maximum punishment of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It will apply retroactively to persons already sentenced to death in California (at present there are 737 people on death row.) The proposed law would save the State of California $130 million annually since those on death row would no longer be treated specially, they would not be entitled to endless appeals, and they would join the regular prison population. No more would death row inmates just sit in individual cells doing nothing: they would be required to work, with earnings earmarked for the victims’ compensation fund.“If … non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.”—Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2267There is little doubt that California’s death penalty is broken beyond repair. In fact, most death row inmates die of old age, after decades of taxpayer-financed appeals. Only 13 people have been executed since 1967, and no one since 2006. The judges of the highest court in California believe that there is no chance the California death penalty can be fixed. Hence, the time is ripe to abolish the death penalty, and replace it with a program that respects life, protects the public, and ensures no innocent will be killed. One important provision of Proposition 34 is that $100 million in savings would be allocated to local law enforcement agencies, enabling them to use the funds for more DNA testing, crime labs and other tools that help police actually solve murders and rapes.Why is Proposition 34 supported by Catholic leaders?If one looks at the use of the death penalty, not only in California but throughout the country, there is always the chance of executing an innocent person. Los Angeles native Franky Carrillo, at age 16, was arrested, wrongly convicted of a 1991 murder in Lynwood, and sentenced to life in prison. It took 20 years to prove his innocence. He speaks eloquently of the need for doing away with the death penalty.The U.S. Catholic Bishops, in “A Culture of life and the Penalty of Death” (2005), have taught that ending the death penalty would be one important step away from a culture of death and toward building a culture of life. Furthermore, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 2267) specifically says:“If … non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.”Support Life Sunday is a time when all Catholics are called to reflect on the dignity of human life.Even our Savior, Jesus, looked upon the thief being crucified next to him and said, “This day you shall be with me in Paradise.” What a powerful example of recognition of the dignity of life and forgiveness, no matter how much wickedness that person has done! Indeed, we must ask ourselves this question: “Why do we kill people who kill people, to show that killing is wrong?” A “yes” vote on Proposition 34 is a vote for the dignity of life. It will ensure justice that corresponds with our beliefs, replacing vengeance with suitable punishment, and saving California millions of much needed dollars for education and other social needs. Put your faith into action on Nov. 6 by voting “yes” on Proposition 34. St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Annette Debs is a committee member of L.A. Catholics Against the Death Penalty, under the Office of Social Justice. This article is the third of a series.
