Archbishop urges death penalty repeal Statement on Propositions 62 & 66 on the November 2016 California Ballot
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone
Three years ago at this time I was part of a delegation of California bishops who paid a pastoral visit to San Quentin State Prison. While there, we had the opportunity to meet with a number of the inmates on death row, hearing their stories, learning of the misfortunes in their lives, and becoming sensitized to their deep spiritual yearnings and innate desire for God. The experience put a human face on a tragic human condition that we very comfortably can – and usually do – completely ignore. This experience also highlights the challenge we as a society face in determining how we can foster peace in this increasingly violent and complicated world. The answer is certainly not by inflicting more
“… the current use of the death penalty does not promote healing. It only brings more violence to a world that has too much violence already.” Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone violence. As we, the Catholic bishops of California, said in our statement reaffirming our opposition to the death penalty: “Our support to end the use of the death penalty is also rooted in our unshakable resolve to accompany and support all victims of crime.... As
we pray with them and mourn with them we must also stress that the current use of the death penalty does not promote healing. It only brings more violence to a world that has too much violence already.” We teach on this sensitive matter aware of the complexities of this issue, but also in communion with the bishops throughout the United States, with conferences of bishops throughout the world, and with the consistent teachings of the Popes of our time. As Pope Francis has recently stated: “The death penalty is an offense to the inviolability of life and to the dignity of the human person; it … does not render justice to victims, but instead fosters vengeance… the basic purpose of all punishment is the rehabilitation see props. 62 & 66, page 10
CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
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September 22, 2016
$1.00 | VOL. 18 NO. 20
Outreach to divorced Catholics Christina Gray Catholic San Francisco
Divorced Catholics are loved and “always belong to the church” – those are Pope Francis’ direct words and the message of a special one-day retreat hosted by the Archdiocese of San Francisco Nov. 12. The retreat to be held at St. Hilary’s Parish in Tiburon, offered in the Year of Mercy, invites divorced Catholics who may be far from the church to return home to a “loving Mother Church and merciful Father God,” according to Ed Hopfner, archdiocesan director of marriage and family life. “The church, from Pope Francis all the way down to our local archdiocese wants divorced Catholics to know they are loved and appreciated and important members of our parish communities,” Hopfner said. Pope Francis put a fine point on this in a 2015 Vatican address saying divorced Catholic couples “are not excommunicated and they must absolutely not be treated that way!” Speakers for the retreat include Father James Sullivan from the Diocese of Oakland, Jesuit Father Al Grosskopf and Father Roger Gustafson, pastor of St. Brendan Parish in San Francisco. The day also includes Mass, confession, a presentation on annulment, group discussion and lunch. Pre-registration is required and child care will be available. “Divorce is a difficult reality for many Catholics in today’s world,” said Hopfner. There are many misunderstandings about the topic that add to the suffering, he said. Victoria Parrot, organizer of the retreat with Hopfner and a parishioner at St. Hilary Parish in Tiburon who was divorced nine years ago, said that she and her son did not feel included in many parish events after her divorce. “I really felt it,” she said. “It’s difficult enough losing your own marriage and family. But the biggest thing in divorce is that sense of separation from God and your church family.” And she is not alone. see divorced, page 16
(Photo courtesy Sisters of Perpetual Adoration/Echo Media)
Vocations of cloistered nuns on the rise
Sister of Perpetual Adoration Mariana professed first vows at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone in the monastery chapel in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury District Aug. 21. The monastery’s charism is eucharistic adoration and the chapel is open to the public 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. See Page 11 for story and photos.
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