News - Life & Social Justice Ministry

Let’s stay fed by Christ to connect to His body according to our individual capacities and gifts. We all need each other. Read about our many programs in the Life & Social Justice Ministry and how you can get involved.

We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

California-based religious organizations, including individual congregations of mosques, synagogues, temples and churches along with regional or state-wide bodies, are invited to sign-on to the following letter. While this letter was delivered to Gov. Newsom's office on September 7, 2023, we invite additional sign-ons for future use of the letter and showing support for the California Mandela Act (AB 280). AB 280 passed off the California Senate Floor on September 13, 2023. It became a two-year bill and Governor Newsom has until this Sept 30, 2024, to act on it. Details and letter through link.

Kiona Medina MFT, Coordinadora de Ministerios de Vida y Justicia Social está ofreciendo un evento HeartShop de 2 horas para las parroquias de la Diócesis de Oakland. Este evento titulado "Un enfoque católico para la curación del trauma y la salud mental: un taller interactivo del corazón. Estas reflexiones interactivas de 2 horas de duración combinan creatividad, fe católica y salud mental. Información e inscripción a través del enlace.

Kiona Medina MFT, Coordinator of Life and Social Just Ministries is offering a HeartShop 2-hour event for parishes in the Diocese of Oakland. This event titled "A Catholic Approach to Trauma Healing and Mental Health: An Interactive Heartshop. These 2-hour long interactive reflections combine creativity, Catholic faith and Mental Health. Information and registration through the link.

​Catholic Charities East Bay Immigration Legal Services, in collaboration with other agencies, hosted an Immigration Forum on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Contra Costa College. The legal team offered free consultations, a Know Your Rights Presentation, and a DACA workshop. Learn more about Catholic Charities through the link.

We pray that political leaders be at the service of their own people, working for integral human development and for the common good, especially caring for the poor and those who have lost their jobs.

OptionsUnited.org is approved by the Catholic Conference of Bishops as the statewide hotline serving all California pro-life organizations including 170+ pregnancy centers. The centers that Options United serves provide essential medical and material support to women in local communities. Read through the link to learn how your assistance in making this life-affirming service known is urgent.

Newsletter alert! Checkout our new Life & Social Justice Ministry newsletter through the link. Be sure to signup!

Read through the link for Resources for the Feast Day of St. Dymphna, Patroness of Mental Health & Protection from Domestic Abuse.

The Office of Life and Social Justice is committed to supporting our Diocese youth and continuing to build opportunities for them to fully live our Catholic values. Read the story of our Carondelet High School Pro Life Club through the link.

In 2015, California legalized assisted suicide for adults with illnesses of 6 months or less to live. Now, a Senator is pushing a bill to allow all chronically ill Californians to receive assisted suicide, as well as people with dementia. Right now, millions of Californians don’t have health care and can’t find doctors or hospitals. The State needs to ensure people have good and accessible healthcare so that people with chronic illnesses don’t feel coerced into dying prematurely. More information through the link.

SB 1196 –End of life Option Act, will have a hearing on April 22 in Sacramento. This bill would eliminate the terminal illness requirement, the requirement that people requesting suicide be mentally competent and the requirement that the suicide cocktail be ingested. Learn much more through the link and please pray that SB 1196 will be defeated!

On March 26, 2024 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States. Details through the link.

The Catholic bishops of California have approved this policy which addresses how parishes and Catholic organizations can engage in public policy advocacy. Please direct all questions to Rick Medeiros, Chancellor.