March 30, 2004
Contact: Joanne Ward
732-562-1990 ext. 1525
Email:  jward@diometuchen.org

     Diocese of Metuchen to host an Evening of Legislative Dialogue

The Diocese of Metuchen will sponsor a Legislative Dialogue on Tuesday, April 20 in the Community Room at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen.

In announcing the event, Metuchen Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski said, “It is important for Catholics to be able to present their concerns to our state legislators and this evening of dialogue will give us that opportunity.”

All 30 state senators and assemblymen and assemblywomen who represent the towns in the Diocese's four counties – Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren – have been invited to the Legislative Dialogue.

To begin at 7 p.m. , the event will include a presentation of issues as well as time for responses by the legislators.

According to Judith Krilla and Jennifer Ruggiero, coordinators of the Legislative Dialogue, the issues to be discussed will include topics on social justice, education and respect life.

“Currently there are a number of subjects including affordable housing, school choice, and stem cell research, which are being addressed in the legislature,” said Krilla, director of the New Jersey Alliance of Catholic School Families. “Through our Legislative Dialogue we want to make our state representatives aware of how Catholics in the Diocese of Metuchen stand on legislation pending in Trenton .”

Krilla will present the Diocese's education issues, Ruggiero will talk about pro-life concerns, and Jean Biel, Director of Housing and Social Concerns for Catholic Charities, will address housing and home care needs.

Ruggiero, director of the Diocese's Office of Pro-Life Activities, noted that the Diocese does not expect all the legislators to agree with the presentations to be made, but said, “their presence at our event will show that they want to learn about the concerns of the Catholic community,”

“Too often we wait until a bill is about to be voted upon to make our voices heard,” Ruggiero said. “Yet, responsible citizenship is a Catholic tradition. In fact, in 1999, the U.S. Bishops, in a statement on Faithful Citizenship, declared that participation in the political process is a moral obligation.”

According to Krilla, The Dioceses of Newark and Trenton sponsored Legislative Dialogues for their legislators and both were a success. “Based on their experience we know this venue can be very effective in communicating with our representatives,” Krilla said.

Over 500 people are expected to attend the Legislative Dialogue. For more information call 732-562-1990, ext. 1630 or click here.

# # # The Diocese of Metuchen serves over 500,000 Catholics in Middlesex, Somerset , Hunterdon and Warren counties. The Diocese includes 108 parishes. It serves its faithful through 25 ministries that provide educational, pastoral and charitable outreach.

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