The New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC) is composed of the New Jersey Catholic Bishops of the Latin Rite dioceses, the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese. The Most Rev. John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, is President of the Conference. The NJCC assists the Jersey Bishops in collaborating on matters of public policy. In expressing the views of the Church, the Conference addresses a wide range of issues in the areas of morality, health, welfare, education, family life, and human and civil rights.
Founded in 1947, the Conference was reorganized in 1969,
and Msgr. Aloysius Welsh of the Archdiocese of Newark was named Executive
Coordinator. In 1972, Edward J.
Leadem, Esq. became Executive Director and continued in that post until his
retirement in 1984, when William F. Bolan, Jr., Esq. was named his
successor and served until his retirement in 2006.
The Bishops appointed Patrick R. Brannigan as Executive Director in July 2006. In addition to Mr.
Brannigan, Conference staff is comprised of Ms. Marlene Laó-Collins,
Director of the Office of Social Concerns and Dr. George V. Corwell, Director of
the Office for
Education. Also serving the
Conference as General Counsel is Elmer M. Matthews, Esq. The Conference support staff consists of
Ms.
Deshawn Hedgepeth,
Office Manager.
The Executive Director is responsible for the supervision
and administration of the staff and office which is located at 149 North Warren
Street, Trenton, New Jersey. The Conference staff monitors proposed legislation
and administrative regulations at the state and federal levels. The staff also works with the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops in matters involving federal legislation and
administrative regulations.
The
Conference consults with
various constituencies in the respective dioceses throughout the state. For example, information
is solicited
The Conference provides services for individual dioceses
in matters of statewide concern.
Conference staff
also has coordinated preparation of the bishops' pastoral letters in the
areas such as housing, substance abuse, Catholic schools, family life, and catechetics.
Grassroots support for legislative
and policy proposals is coordinated through the appropriate Catholic organizations. Because of restrictions against lobbying
which are imposed by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the
Conference never endorses nor provides any support to political
candidates or political organizations or parties.