New Jersey Catholic Conference

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                                                                                                                                                                                                William F. Bolan, Jr., J.D.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Executive Director

 

                                                                       

January 31, 2005

 

 

A  C  T  I  O  N    A  L  E  R  T

A-3237 / S-1093

 

ISSUE:            A-3237 sponsored by Assemblyman Louis Manzo permits adopted person, their descendant or parent, if a minor, access to adopted person’s original birth certificate and other related information.  Adoption records, currently sealed, could be opened with out the agreement of the birth parents.  This bill has been referred to Assembly Family, Women and Children's Services Committee.  On December 6, 2004 Senate version S-1093 passed the Senate (26-14) and was referred to the Assembly Family, Women’s and Children Services Committee. 

 

OUR

POSITION:    A-3237 shatters the guarantee of confidentiality that the state gave thousands of birth parents who placed their babies for adoption.  This legislation is potentially explosive and damaging to birth parents that have depended on confidentiality as their legal protection and guarantee. If this bill passes, the only confidential option in New Jersey for those who are pregnant would be abortion or Safe Haven which was intended to protect unwanted babies from being abused, abandoned or killed.

 

 

ACTION:       Write to Member of the Assembly Family, Women and Children's Services Committee and Assembly Speaker Albio Sires and express your opposition to A3237/S1093.  Attached is a Fact Sheet which may be used in the formulation of your letter of opposition. 

 

 

 

Representing the Archdiocese of Newark, Diocese of Camden, Diocese of Metuchen,

Diocese of Paterson, Diocese of Trenton, Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and

Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese