Restorative Justice

In conjunction with the commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Catholic bishops of California have released a new pastoral resource to help guide pastors in ministering to victims of violent crime.

The California Catholic Conference, Office of Restorative Justice and Santa Clara University, Pastoral Ministries Graduate Program with a concentration on Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy, and the (Arch)Diocesan Restorative Justice Directors of California have partnered to offer a free web-based restorative justice chaplaincy program. The January pilot program is aimed at providing training for the spiritual care for the incarcerated and their families, as well as care of victims of crime and their families.

The California Catholic Conference of Bishops opposes Proposition 20 on the grounds that it threatens to overturn the important criminal justice reforms advanced by Propositions 47 and 57.

California is a leader in correctional justice reform and the Church has been a strong voice in that effort.  Recent reforms have produced many policies aimed at preparing incarcerated people to return safely and productively to the community while simultaneously expanding services to help crime victims heal and recover.

Dioceses throughout California held special Masses and tributes on Tuesday, June, 9, for George Floyd, an African-American man who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd was laid to rest in Houston the same day.  

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J.

Free training is being offered to Parish Bereavement Ministry Directors and Ministers and those who accompany the bereaved.

All too often, it is only when facing serious and life-threatening illness that people discuss their wishes. But, it’s at this time that a dizzying array of health care choices materialize, concerns over health predominate every waking moment and worry about family and other concerns can become overwhelming.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages more than thirty prisons in the state with a combined inmate population of over 130,000.

(En Espanol) Catholic dioceses in California are offering special prayers and Masses in observation of