N.J. BISHOPS ASK US TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT

Last January Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’ Committee on Pro Life Activities, told Catholic News Service that, when Pope Francis heard that the U.S. bishops “identify the protection of the unborn as a preeminent priority,” his response was to say that the protection of the unborn is their most fundamental right – that it is not first and foremost a religious issue; it’s a human rights issue.  (Catholic News Service, January 16, 2020)

The New Jersey bishops, in a recent statement, urge all of us New Jersey Catholics and all people of good will to reject the “Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848)” that, on October  2, Governor Phil Murphy announced is being submitted to the state’s legislature. Please familiarize yourself with this proposed bill and consider writing and encouraging others to write letters to your legislators requesting that they vote against this bill’s passage into law.

Click here for a link to the Bishops’ statement. Then review the material below and consider using the link provided to contact your State legislators and express your opposition to the passage of this bill into law.

Reproductive Freedom Act Fact Sheet:  Key Points on Reproductive Freedom Act

Link to a Reproductive Freedom Act Webinar provided by the Diocese of Metuchen Office of Human Life and Dignity

Click here to read a sample of what New Jersey “Reproductive Freedom Act” advocates are saying in favor of the bill.

Click here to read a sample of what the bill’s opponents are saying about it.  In this insidenj.com web article, they report that the Sussex County Board of Elected Freeholders passed a resolution to send to Governor Murphy, each of the state’s legislators, all of
the other Boards of Chosen Freeholders statewide and each municipality in Sussex County, stating their opposition, among other things, to the Act and its provisions which “enshrine in law that living babies in the womb, capable of feeling pain, have no rights at any stage of pregnancy, even if they are viable and at full term.”

List of the Bishops of New Jersey

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark

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

Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan
Bishop, Diocese of Camden

Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney
Bishop, Diocese of Paterson

Most Reverend James F. Checchio
Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen

Most Reverend Kurt Burnette
Bishop, Eparchy of Passaic

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

October 5, 2020