The Catholic Church in New Jersey Stands Ready to Help Moms and Mothers-to-Be in Need
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
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
May 12, 2022
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
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
Based on the recent events following the leak by Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473) of the U.S. Supreme Court's draft on its decision of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which may potentially overturn the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in the United States, and the strong emotions that just the possibility has generated on both sides, it is clear that we are engaged in a fight for our nation's spiritual life.
Please continue to pray for and witness to the cause of the right to life. Pray for our national and state leaders - especially those who are Catholic - that they may see their way to the truth, as inconvenient and politically challenging as it may be, because such temporal concerns pale into insignificance when compared to the eternal value of souls, both their own and their constituents.
Please continue to pray for and witness to the cause of the right to life. Pray for our national and state leaders - especially those who are Catholic - that they may see their way to the truth, as inconvenient and politically challenging as it may be, because such temporal concerns pale into insignificance when compared to the eternal value of souls, both their own and their constituents.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Committee on Pro-Life Activities have encouraged the
Dioceses of the United States to join in fasting and prayer for a renewed national commitment to the sacredness
of all human life from conception through natural death this coming Friday, May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I invite the clergy religious and faithful of the Diocese to pray
the rosary this Friday, May 13, for this intention. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Most Reverend David M. O'Connell, C.M.
Bishop of Trenton
Our FORMED Recommendation for the Week
Join Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life and Dr. Tim Gray for today's discussion on Our Lady of Fatima.
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