This study guide covers all fourteen ballot propositions: the law as it stands, what each measure would change, the strongest case on each side, the principles of Catholic social teaching that apply, and questions to weigh—with no recommendation on any measure.
14 MEASURES COMPILED AUG 3,2026
A NOTE ON THIS DOCUMENT
The Bishops of California are not endorsing or opposing any measure on the 2026 California ballot, and
nothing here should be interpreted as such. This resource exists solely to help Catholics form their conscience for faithful citizenship. Every measure on this ballot calls for prudential judgment — a decision about whether a particular law will actually accomplish the good it promises. On questions like these, the Church forms consciences rather than issuing verdicts, and Catholics of equal good faith and equal fidelity can reach opposite conclusions.
HOW EACH MEASURE IS LAID OUT
Every entry contains the same six parts. “What the measure would do” states the change itself, first, so the
question on the ballot is plain. “Where things stand now” then gives the existing law, because most of these measures alter something already on the books and the change is sometimes hard to judge without that context. “The case for” and “the case against” present each side’s argument in its own terms, not a rebuttal of it.
The Catholic Social Teaching lens then sets out where the measure resonates with the tradition and where it sits in tension with it, followed by a note on who has lined up on each side — which on several measures cuts against the obvious partisan read. Each entry closes with questions voters can consider as they weigh their choice. Most of those questions are empirical rather than doctrinal, which is deliberate: the disagreement among people of good faith is rarely about whether housing or health care or honest elections are goods, but about whether this particular instrument delivers them.
In-person voters can print this reference guide and take it with them to polling stations.
Additional Election Resources from the California Catholic Conference can be found at: Elections 2026 - California Catholic Conference