Respect Life

A fundamental tenet of Catholic teaching is that each human life is sacred and that society should protect human life at every stage of its existence. We believe that all actions by the government shoud be judged by how they address the dignity of life and family. Therefore, we support legislative and policy efforts that support and enhance life. Our special concern for those who are vulnerable - - children in the womb, young, old, disabled, impovershed, hungry, homeless, immigrant or those who are ill - - is rooted in Scared Scripture which calls us to speak on behalf of the vulnerable and to alleviate their pain, suffering, and anxiety by direct action. 

May 12, 2022

Catholic Church in New Jersey Stands Ready to Help Moms
and Mothers-to-Be in Need (Click for Spanish version)

A joint statement from the New Jersey Catholic bishops on Governor Murphy’s proposal that all health insurers in New Jersey provide
coverage for abortion services
 
The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey join to express our disappointment and outrage over Governor Murphy’s announcement regarding proposed legislation to expand access to abortion in New Jersey, an act that by its very nature terminates human life. If enacted, this legislation would mandate health insurance coverage for abortions, codify regulations that permit non-physicians to perform abortions; and create a public fund that dedicates taxpayer money to pay for abortions.

Ironically, New Jersey already has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the United States and continues to provide abortion providers tens of millions of dollars in public funds to perform these services. New Jersey continues to rank among the top three states in annual abortion procedures nationwide. For these reasons it is incomprehensible to force health insurance providers in New Jersey to cover 100 percent of the cost to expand access to these abhorrent services.

This proposed legislation is a direct attack on the dignity and sanctity of life and is further evidence that we have failed as a society when a mother feels her only option is to end the life of her child.

For our part, the Catholic Church is committed to opposing this legislation, but more importantly we stand ready to  broaden and increase awareness about the abundant resources and programs we offer from pregnancy and foster care centers to clothing, food, housing services, adoption agencies, family resource centers, and national programs such as Walking with Moms in Need. We promise to assist and stand by every mother and family facing a difficult and unplanned pregnancy.
 
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.,  
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark                        

Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney
Bishop, Diocese of Paterson

Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.,                          
Diocese of Trenton

Most Reverend James Checchio, 
Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen

Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, 
Bishop, Diocese of Camden                                      

Most Reverend Kurt Burnette,                                      
Bishop, Eparchy of Passaic

Most Reverend Yousif Habash
Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of the Syriac Catholic Diocese

January 6, 2022

The New Jersey Catholic Conference strongly opposes Senate Bill 49, legislation that would codify into state law an individual’s right to an abortion.

The Catholic Church has a long-standing tradition of providing quality life-affirming healthcare to all people, especially the poor and marginalized of society, and we remain committed to these efforts.

Additionally, every day, the Catholic Church offers services to help mothers suffering from the trauma of abortion. Often, these mothers share that the decision they made was based on the fear of not having resources to provide an adequate life for the child.

No mother should feel that ending the life of her child is her only option because she lacks access to quality healthcare, including prenatal care. Furthermore, she may lack the resources to provide for her child after birth, including housing, food, and education – all of which are offered by the Catholic Church.

Finally, the Catholic Church stands ready to work for public policies that provide just solutions to the economic, social, and racial issues that often lead mothers faced with unplanned pregnancies to believe ending the lives of their unborn children is their only option.

For these reasons, I ask that you vote no on S49.

Thank you. 

James J. King
Executive Director

March 5, 2021 - Today, the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), which represents the Catholic bishops and dioceses of New Jersey, submitted comments to the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners strongly opposing proposed amendments to regulations regarding Surgery, Special Procedures, and Anesthesia Services Performed in an Office Setting.

Proposed amendments by the State would advance policies that threaten the sanctity of life and other human rights.  More specifically, such policies would allow non-physicians to perform abortions after 14 weeks of gestation, permit these abortions in office-based settings, and eliminate the requirement of hospital admitting privileges to medical professionals performing these procedures. To read the Board’s proposed changes, click HERE.

In their letter, the NJCC challenges the justification for the proposed amendments.

“As proposed, the Board asserts that the current health and safety regulations for abortions in New Jersey present an undue burden that limits access to these procedures. However, recent statistics on the number of abortions performed in New Jersey suggests otherwise.”

According to the most recent data available, in 2017 New Jersey accounted for 5.6% of abortions performed in the United States. Additionally, between 2014 and 2017, New Jersey experienced a 9% increase in abortions while the remainder of the country witnessed an 8% decreases in the abortions.

Furthermore, unlike other States, New Jersey has no major limitations on abortions, such as parental notification, mandated waiting periods or limitation on public funding to subsidize these procedures.

The NJCC urges the Board not to adopt the proposed amendments.

“This data, as well as the absence of any major restrictions on abortions and the continued allocation of New Jersey tax dollars for these services, suggests that the Board’s decision to amend these rules is nothing more than an arbitrary and capricious change of regulations for reasons other than medical necessity. For this reason, I am asking the State Board of Medical Examiners to not adopt the amendments proposed in PR 2021-002.”

In the coming weeks, the State must respond to all submitted written comments and post notice of any changes to the rules.

To read NJCC's full letter, click HERE
To sign up for the NJCC Action Alert Network, click HERE


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