Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010

State

California bill would bring end to shackling of pregnant prisoners
Sep. 1, 2010, By Valerie Schmalz
California is poised to become the first state in the nation to halt the shackling of pregnant women prisoners, under legislation sent to the governor for his signature.

Bishops’ offer guidelines to ‘opt out’ for parents of public school children
Sep. 1, 2010, By Valerie Schmalz
The California Catholic bishops’ conference is alerting parents and guardians of public school children that they have the right to ‘opt out’ of many influences and classes that contradict their family’s values – from instruction in how to perform ...

Same-sex marriages on hold at least until December appeal hearing
Aug. 16, 2010
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted a request by proponents of the ban to stay U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s Aug. 4 ruling that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marriage.  The decision means that Proposition 8, the 2008 ...

Enforcement of same-sex marriage ban to end Aug. 18, judge rules; Prop 8 proponents to appeal
Aug. 12, 2010
Proponents of Proposition 8 would not suffer any harm if the ban were continued pending further court action, but same-sex couples would be harmed because they would not have equal access to state sanction of marriage, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled.

Catholic leaders and others decry reasoning behind judge’s ruling on marriage
Aug. 11, 2010, By Rick DelVecchio
The Aug. 4 court ruling striking down California’s voter-approved definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman as having no rational basis is drawing a rising chorus of criticism from Catholic bishops and others who believe the societal case for traditional ...

Federal judge rules California’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
Aug. 4, 2010, By Rick DelVecchio
Judge says Proposition 8 was a hard-fought campaign and voters decided a moral question but the initiative “fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license.”  Proponents of Prop 8 will appeal.

Judge hears closing arguments in Prop 8 trial
Jun. 17, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said his ruling would be "forthcoming" on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which passed by popular vote in 2008.  

California bishop's committee's statement on life-without-parole ruling
May. 18, 2010
Clearly this decision is a good first step towards more just sentencing—sentencing which will offer the offender, the victims and the community a chance for restorative justice.

California bishops launch effort to strengthen Church voice with legislators
May. 5, 2010, By Valerie Schmalz
“The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society, on the other hand, is proper to the lay faithful. As citizens of the State, they are called to take part in public life in a personal capacity.”

June 16 set for closing in Prop 8 trial
Apr. 30, 2010
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has proposed closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger for June 16 at 10 a.m. in San Francisco.

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