California: Catholics plan prayer walk to encourage Gov Newsom to commute all death sentences

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy

National and local Catholic organisations and activists are coming together to hold an event in Anaheim to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to commute the sentences of all individuals on California's death row before he leaves office.

Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) is joining with the Office of Restorative Justice in the Diocese of Orange, Loyola Marymount University, PaxChristi USA, Catholics Against the Death Penalty, the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, and the Catholic Conference of California to educate California citizens on the realities of the death penalty and the Church's opposition to the practice.

The Prayer Walk and Vigil to End the Death Penalty will take place on Saturday, February 21 at 11.30am - 12pm local time at the Anaheim Convention Center .

A live stream will be available at this link: www.facebook.com/CMNEndtheDeathPenalty/

For many years, this prayer walk was organized by Fr Chris Ponnet, a pastoral leader and committed advocate for death penalty abolition who passed away last year. All are welcome to join in honouring his witness and legacy in this prayer as we seek to encourage Governor Newsom to commute death sentences.

Catholic Mobilizing Network was an integral part of the successful campaign to urge then-President Joseph Biden to commute nearly all of the federal death sentences before he left office, gathering nearly 10,000 signatures from Catholics supporting clemency.

"This is a critical moment for the state of California," said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. "Governor Newsom has executive authority to commute the sentences of the individuals on California's death row before leaving office, and it's critical that Catholics are among the cacophony of voices urging him to take this life-saving action. Governor Newsom has taken committed steps to dismantle the largest death row in the country - but as long as these individuals have death sentences, their lives remain at risk. As a people of faith, urging Governor Newsom to take decisive action is part of our work to defend the dignity of life."

Emmjolee Mendoza Waters, the Director of Death Penalty Abolition Program at Catholic Mobilizing Network emphasized that public education events such as these hosted in California in the coming weeks are an essential part to the work. "Public polling data makes it clear that some Catholics don't know the Church's emphatic teaching on the death penalty, but when they are aware, they're more likely to publicly oppose capital punishment. That's why public education matters so much to us at CMN. We focus on storytelling and honest conversations that make the Church's teaching real, not abstract, and invite people to take concrete action."

California has carried out just 13 executions since 1976, with the last execution occurring more than 20 years ago on January 17, 2006 when Clarence Ray Allen was executed by lethal injection. With 565 people on death row, California has the largest death row in the country. There have been eight exonerations from death row in California. The state has seen fewer people receive death sentences in recent years, with just five new death sentences being handed down in 2025.

On March 13, 2019, Governor Newsom signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty in California. At this time, he dismantles the death chamber.

- 2022 Governor Newsom signed The Racial Justice Act for All bill into law, which establishes a process for death-row prisoners to receive relief from convictions or death sentences obtained "on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin"
- 2023 - Governor Newsom integrates prisoners from death row into general prison populations throughout the state.
- 2024 - Newsom received praise from the Pope for his moratorium on the death penalty.

Further events:

Thursday, 19 February 19 7-8.30pm
Diocese of Orange Event: Is the death penalty a pro-life issue?
Christ Cathedral Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave,Garden Grove, CA 92840
In collaboration with the Office of Restorative Justice in the Diocese of Orange, CMN will host a conversation on the Church's pro-life teaching on the death penalty - and why it matters. CMN's Emmjolee Mendoza Waters will answer some of the most common questions about capital punishment and consider what defending human dignity asks of us in the response to violence.
Contact: Fred La Puzza: flapuzza@rcbo.org

February 19-22
Catholic Mobilizing Network at the Religious Education Conference
Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802
The annual RECongress is an invitation to gather with a global community of believers, religious educators, and ministry professionals to renew your faith and spirit; experience transformative workshops, meaningful connections, and engaging Liturgies: come celebrate your Catholic faith. CMN will be in the exhibit hall throughout the conference to educate participants on how they can advance the clemency campaign in California. Contact: Emmjolee Mendoza Waters: emmjolee@catholicsmobilizing.org

Wednesday, 25 March - Time tba
Next Gen for Justice at Loyola Marymount University
California: Loyola Marymount University Campus | Los Angeles, CA
Join Catholic Mobilizing Network and the community of Loyola Marymount University for an evening of storytelling and prayer focused on highlighting the injustices of the death penalty and uplifting the California Clemency campaign. Hear from death row exonerees and attorneys who have fought to end the death penalty and support those who were wrongly sentenced. Learn how you can take action to support clemency in California and to advocate for those scheduled for execution across the country.