New Jersey Catholic Conference
Welcome to the New Jersey Catholic Conference web site.
Founded in 1949, the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC) represents the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey on matters of public policy. NJCC serves as a liaison to governmental agencies and institutions and coordinates communications and activities between the Bishops and secular agencies. The Archbishop of Newark is the President of NJCC. There are more than 3.5 million Catholics registered in seven dioceses throughout New Jersey.
Dioceses
- Archdiocese of Newark
- Diocese of Trenton
- Diocese of Camden
- Diocese of Paterson
- Diocese of Metuchen
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark (Syrian)
News
TESTIMONY BY PATRICK R. BRANNIGAN IN OPPOSITION OF S-1/A-1
The New Jersey Catholic Conference urges the New Jersey Legislature to continue to recognize marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This is critical as marriage is the foundation of the family. The family, in turn, is the basic unit of society.
To read the full statement, Click here.
STATEMENT OF THE NEW JERSEY BISHOPS ON MARRIAGE
Marriage as a union of a man and a woman has its roots in natural law. Throughout all of human history marriage has been held to be a union of man and woman. Marriage as a union of man and woman existed long before any nation, religion, or law was established. Marriage which unites mothers and fathers in the work of childrearing is the foundation of the family and the family is the basic unit of society.
To read the full statement, Click here.
For Spanish Translation, Click here.
CATHOLIC TEACHING ON MARRIAGE
The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey's 2009 statement on marriage offers response to renewed same sex marriage push.
Gay rights activists filed suit June 29, 2011 in State Superior Court to
overturn New Jersey's Civil Union law. New Jersey passed a domestic
partnership law in 2002 and legalized civil unions in 2006. Advocates
for same sex marriage in New Jersey contend that the provisions in the
civil union law do not ensure equal rights under the law and that only
marriage can provide equality. An attempt to pass same sex marriage in
New Jersey failed again in January, 2010.
The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey addressed this issue in their
statement promulgated Aug. 22, 2009, titled: "The Call to Marriage is
Woven Deeply into the Human Spirit." In it, they state: As Catholics, we
must not stand by in silence in the face of the many challenges that
threaten marriage and, in turn, children and the public good. We must
not shirk our responsibility. We must protect and promote marriage. We
must not abandon the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage and the
complementarity of the sexes - a truth that is evident to right reason
and recognized as such by the major cultures of the world.
In the 2,200-word statement, the bishops provide background on the
Catholic Church's teaching on marriage and the importance of preserving
the definition of the institution as a relationship between one man and
one woman. It renews the Church's commitment to nurture married couples
and all members of families, and to bring Christ's compassion to those
who are experiencing difficulties, illness and anxiety..
To read the full statement, Click here.
NJ BISHOPS' STATEMENT ON POVERTY IN NEW JERSEY
The U.S Census Bureau recently confirmed that over 49 million Americans, or 16% of the population, live in poverty. Similarly, the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute has documented the alarming depth and breadth of poverty in New Jersey – a state that is frequently ranked as the second or third richest state in the country. In 2009, over 799,000 New Jersey residents had incomes lower than the official poverty rate - incomes so low that they were unable to make ends meet and required food stamps to survive.
To read the full statement CLICK HERE.
Statement by Bishop Serratelli: A Time for Truth: The Bold Voice of Religion in Public
This past November, the American Atheists organization provoked a debate. But not without merit. As soon as the Christians began their Advent services in church and their Christmas shopping in the malls, some atheists attacked the very fact that Jesus was born. They put up a billboard on the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel that boldly declared - You know it's a myth. This season, celebrate reason.
