In conjunction with the joint statement on marriage from the New Jersey bishops that was released in parishes last month, each parish in the diocese is set to hold a petition drive in the weeks ahead expressing parishioner support of marriage between one man and one woman and opposition to “same sex marriage.”
Petition forms were sent to parishes last week and parishes will take up the petition drive in September or early October. The petitions will be delivered by parish representatives to legislators next month before the New Jersey legislature takes up the issue after the November elections in a lame duck session.
Parish Respect Life coordinators and the Knights of Columbus councils will be assisting parishes in the effort.
In addition, workshops will be offered in September for both clergy and laity of the diocese to understand the same-sex “marriage” issue more clearly, why it is important, what are its potential ramifications, and to hear answers to common questions that arise when discussing same-sex “marriage.”
Sessions will be held
— Sept. 21 from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Maris Stella, Avalon, and
— Sept. 22 at St. Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville, from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
A special clergy workshop also will be held on Sept. 22.
The free workshops, which are being sponsored by the diocese’s offices of Lifelong Formation-Family Life/Respect Life, are being presented by Damon Clarke Owens from the Office of Family Life of the Archdiocese of Newark and New Jersey director of the National Organization for Marriage.
A new website for the marriage initiative also has been created by the diocese with resources for parishioners that include latest news, frequently asked questions, a prayer for marriage, web links and the text of the joint statement on marriage from the New Jersey Bishops (“Marriage Initiative” link off the diocesan homepage at www.camdendiocese.org.
The joint statement of the bishops, “The Call to Marriage Is Woven Deeply into the Human Spirit,” was released last month in parishes in the Catholic dioceses of Newark, Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson and the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic. In it, the bishops reiterate the Church’s teaching that marriage has been established with its own nature, properties and purpose, and therefore cannot be altered for political or social reasons.
Editor’s note: For more information about the marriage workshops, contact: 856-583-6118 or email mchezik@camdendiocese.org
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