New Jersey Catholic Conference

149 North Warren Street

Trenton, New Jersey 08608

(609) 989-1120 · Fax (609) 989-1152

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Patrick R. Brannigan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Executive Director

 

Statement by Patrick R. Brannigan in Support of Marriage as a

Union of One Man and One Woman

 

 

I have submitted to the Committee a letter signed by all of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey.  Consequently, I will keep my remarks short as the Bishops’ letter speaks for the Catholic Church in New Jersey.

 

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. 

 

Marriage as a union of one man and one woman has its roots not only in human tradition and history, but also in natural law, which transcends all man-made law.  Marriage is a natural institution.

 

Marriage is distinct in essence from every other arrangement because marriage is always between a man and a woman.  The Catholic Church celebrates the covenant of marriage as sacred.

 

New Jersey, like other states, has from the beginning recognized marriage, honored it, and sought to support and protect it.  Today, we ask you to continue the tradition of protecting marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

 

 

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