FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Diocese of Fresno announced on Tuesday that it does not endorse Fresno City Council candidate Rene Campos in his bid to represent District 7, despite his press conference outside St. John’s Cathedral.

Campos, a registered sex offender, had announced his candidacy for District 7 on the Fresno City Council earlier this month. His platform is to “protect the vulnerable” and “tell the truth even when it costs you.”

The press conference on Friday, held in response to the pushback Campos’ candidacy has received, took place in Downtown Fresno on the sidewalk between the cathedral and Big Picture Elementary School at Mariposa Street and R Street. The school has already stated it has “nothing to do” with Campos’ campaign; the Diocese of Fresno’s announcement follows the same position.

In a statement sent to YourCentralValley.com on Tuesday, the Diocese of Fresno states that the location of the press conference was chosen “independently and irresponsibly” and that the church and school were being used as props in his “theater of politics.”

The full statement received by the Diocese of Fresno is below.

Mr. Campos independently and irresponsibly chose the location for the press conference and used the Catholic Church and the School as props in his theater of politics.

Bishop Joseph Brennan and the Diocese of Fresno strongly condemn Mr. Campos’s decision.

The Diocese of Fresno has a long-standing history of civic engagement with elected officials and candidates across the political spectrum. Such engagement is rooted in communication, transparency and collegial community collaboration.

This collaborative approach is clearly not of mind for Mr. Campos.

The Diocese of Fresno wishes to make it abundantly clear that while the Catholic Church has a responsibility to engage with civic leaders, the Church does not endorse Mr. Campos or any other candidate.

Diocese of Fresno

The diocese adds that neither it nor St. John’s Cathedral received prior notice of Friday’s event.

YourCentralValley.com has reached out to Rene Campos for a response.