'Monumental' FEMA shift opens door to disaster relief funds for religious organizations

FLOOD DAMAGE • Floodwaters from Superstorm Sandy swamp the area around St. Rose Parish and its grammar and high schools in Belmar during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. A change in FEMA policy may mean federal funds for religious organizations and houses of worship affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  Monitor file photo Superstorm Sandy-weary diocesan and parish officials are lauding a Federal Emergency Management Agency policy change announced Jan. 2 that reverses a prior exclusion for religious organizations and houses of worship from applying for federal aid to recover from natural disasters.  More ... Thursday, January 25, 2018

State's bishops continue to advocate 10 years after death penalty abolished in N.J.

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the elimination of the death penalty in New Jersey, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., and the state’s seven other Catholic bishops not only hailed the law as a victory for the dignity of life but renewed the call to end capital punishment across the nation. “Our message is simple – every human being is made in the image and likeness of God, who alone is the absolute Lord of life from its beginning until its end (Genesis 1:26-28),” the bishops wrote in a statement issued Dec. 17. More ... Friday, December 15, 2017

N.J. bishops issue statement on 10th anniversary of state death penalty elimination

Over many decades, the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey consistently called for the abolishment of the death penalty. Thank God, on December 17, 2007, New Jersey became the first state in 40 years to enact a law to eliminate the death penalty.  More ... Friday, December 15, 2017

Multi-faith Service and Conference on Peace scheduled for Nov. 12

Three Catholic parishes in Mercer County will join their brothers and sisters of other faiths Nov. 12 at Princeton University in a program to promote peaceful discourse. More ... Monday, November 6, 2017

Newark auxiliary punched in mouth; alleged attacker arrested

IRVINGTON, N.J. -- Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz of Newark told a congregation he was fine Jan. 29, the day after he had been punched in the mouth by an assailant. More ... Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Rally for Life at State House has been cancelled but Cathedral Mass still on at 9:30

Due to the heavy rains and high winds predicted to impact the central New Jersey area tomorrow, the organizers of the Rally for Life, planned to take place Monday, Jan. 23, at the State House in Trenton, have cancelled the event.  More ... Sunday, January 22, 2017