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NJCC Disheartened by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners Adoption of Proposed Rules to Expand Abortion Services

September is National Recovery Month, a time during which we celebrate those who have achieved recovery and continue our support of those still working toward it. During this time, we, the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, are renewing our commitment to helping those suffering from various forms of addiction and we are calling on all Catholics and people of good will to join us in praying for, supporting, and encouraging those working toward recovery.

Twenty years ago today, 2,996 lives were lost in terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That staggering figure includes citizens of 78 countries, 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. It includes the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon building and the 44 lives lost in Shanksville. It includes too the lives of the 19 militants who carried out the unspeakable horror.

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ  Many areas of our beautiful Diocese of Metuchen, like many other parts our state, were significantly impacted by historic flooding and storms last night from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which had already torn through Louisiana, leaving over a million there without power and with serious damage.

SOMERVILLE – A former pastor who diverted parish funds for his own personal use was sentenced Wednesday to serve seven years in state prison.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   It is not easy to slow ourselves in these days of summer. The summer months may have at one time represented quieted lifestyles and slowed news cycles but now, both seem to be operating at an all-time high, as our minds continuously churn with information about the latest coronavirus updates, Olympic medals won, and, yes, even news about our Catholic Church.

PISCATAWAY – Adding to the systems already in place to report abuse within its boundaries, the Diocese of Metuchen today announced the implementation of an independent third-party reporting system that will allow any person who suspects financial impropriety or other violations of the Diocese of Metuchen’s Pastoral Code of Conduct, to file an anonymous and confidential report.

As the world awaits to hear updates from the Holy See on the continued recovery of Pope Francis after his surgery last weekend, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement:

ASBURY – Seated before Bishop James F. Checchio in the open-air National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on the eve of Father’s Day, five men – four newly ordained priests and one newly ordained deacon, all for the Diocese of Metuchen – were called to emulate the love of St. Joseph for his Son, Jesus, with all God’s people.

More than a now nationally recognized holiday, Juneteenth is a heartening celebration of emancipation, a sobering remembrance of the horrors of slavery, and a call for each of us to embrace our shared humanity and recognize the fundamental truth that we are all equally made in the image and likeness of God.

The recent string of mass shootings over these past few months, the latest of which occurred earlier today in Austin, Texas, has been a tragic reminder of the many lives lost to gun violence over the years and a jarring reminder of the long road ahead as we work towards peace.

As you may be aware, just a couple of weeks ago, my brother New Jersey bishops and I released a statement reinstating the general obligation to attend Mass, beginning on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the weekend of June 5 and June 6. Gratefully, we will together come home to our parishes, gathering as a Eucharistic assembly around the table of the Lord to receive Him in the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith. 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has shared the results of the study A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate: A Study for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2020-2021. This annual survey, conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, provides an illustration of the state of the permanent diaconate in the United States, including the number of those ordained and retired in the past year, percentages of those involved in various Church ministries, and other demographic information.

Yesterday, Governor Murphy announced in his Executive Order 242 that he is lifting most of the restrictions imposed to control the spread of COVID-19. The following guidelines are issued for the Diocese of Metuchen:

At this time, due to the observance of public safety protocols and the increase in the availability of vaccines, we have begun a return to some sense of normalcy in various sectors of our society.

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is hard to believe that the Easter season is nearly at a close. As we draw near to Pentecost, a time of renewal for our Church, I find myself eagerly awaiting that renewal – how it is needed in our day. This has been a challenging year, in what seems to be a series of them, but the Holy Spirit’s coming on Pentecost is a reminder to us that even though at times it would seem easier to hide in the Upper Room as the Apostles did for a time, fortified by the Holy Spirit, we are called as Jesus’ disciples to journey through our lives with holiness and boldness.

So often, I tell you about our wonderful seminarians. I suspect sometimes that you might even get tired of hearing me brag about them, but they offer so much hope for the future. They are a committed group of young men, who inspire me as they grow in deeper friendship with Jesus while preparing to lay down their lives in service of Him and our diocese.  

Your voice could help save millions of lives! The Hyde Amendment has protected Americans from funding abortion for 45 years. It is credited with saving the lives of over 2.4 million children to date. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away this law that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century. Without it, billions of taxpayer dollars could go to abortion. That means abortions would be cheaper, easier, and funded with our taxpayer dollars. 

The Bishops of New Jersey have recently voted to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord from Thursday, May 13th to Sunday, May 16th (replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter). Cardinal Tobin has made it clear that this change is for this year only.

Five years ago today, I was blessed to become your Shepherd. In sending me to your diocese, I remember Pope Francis said to me, “you must know a lot of people and clergy in your new diocese since it is so close to your home.”