SACRAMENTO --- The president of the California Catholic Conference this week expressed strong support for an end to the death penalty in California and affirming the recent statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, "A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death."

"In light of the fact that California has scheduled three executions --- one in December, one in January and one in February --- we implore all Californians to ask themselves what good comes of state-sanctioned killing," said Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton.

"We recognize the profound pain of those who have lost loved ones to violence and offer them our prayers and our consolation. However, nothing can undo what was done --- even taking the life of the convicted killer. The infliction of the death penalty does not make for a more just society."

Of particular concern to bishops, Bishop Blaire continued, is the fact that "the application of the death penalty is deeply flawed, with those who are poor or from racial minorities most often its subjects." The three pending executions in California are illustrative of these facts, he said.

"As Catholic bishops, we teach and preach the Gospel vision of a 'culture of life.' We believe that we are created in God's image, which compels us to teach a consistent ethic of life and obligates us to preach that the use of the death penalty does not protect human life nor promote human dignity.

At this moment in time, "we entreat Californians to ponder carefully whether the use of the death penalty makes our society safer," Bishop Blaire concluded. "A moratorium is needed to evaluate whether the death penalty serves the common good and safeguards the dignity of human life. We are convinced that it does not."

Transitional deacons ordained

CAMARILLO --- Three men preparing for ordination to the priesthood in 2006 were ordained as transitional deacons for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Nov. 19 at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo.

Deacons John-Paul Gonzalez, Paul Griesgraber and Francis Ilano were ordained by Bishop Sylvester Ryan of Monterey, former St. John's rector. The deacons are from St. Peter Claver Church, Simi Valley; St. Victor Church, West Hollywood; and St. Bernard Church, Bellflower, respectively.

A fourth St. John's seminarian, Paul Velasquez of Resurrection Church, East Los Angeles, will be ordained a transitional deacon in his hometown of Tapatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico, on Jan. 12, 2006, with Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar presiding.

Retirement Fund for Religious receives biggest annual response

WASHINGTON --- The appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious, now in its 18th year, has generated a greater response than any annual appeal in U.S. Catholic Church history, according to the National Religious Retirement Office, which sponsors the appeal.

The more than $460 million that the appeal has raised since 1988 helps to ensure appropriate care for the more than 38,000 Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who are now past age 70. This year's collection takes place in parishes the weekend of Dec. 10-11.