The diocesan Respect Life Ministry and the Department of Pastoral Care are sponsoring a pair of information sessions in diocesan parishes focusing on physician-assisted suicide and a current legislative initiative before the state legislature.

Each will focus on providing pertinent details on the “Aid in dying for the terminally ill act,” (A2270/S382), which is currently being considered before the New Jersey State Legislature. The presentations will educate and inform guests on the medical, legal and moral concerns of physician-assisted suicide.

The first will be held Oct. 7, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Pedata Hall in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and will feature Jennifer Ruggiero, director of the Office of Respect for Life of the Diocese of Metuchen.

The second will be held Oct. 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Ferrante Hall in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square.

The presenter for the second information session will be Kathleen Boozang, professor, associate dean, and founder of the top-ranked health law program in Seton Hall Law School, West Orange. She serves as a fellow of The Hastings Center, as well as the American Bar Foundation, and she is a member of the American Law Institute. Boozang participates in the consultant group for the Principles of Nonprofit Law.

In addition, she also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Health and Life Sciences Law, and is a past editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. She is past president of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics and also previously sat on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Health Law.

For additional information, contact the diocesan Respect Life Ministry at 609-403-7192 or email [email protected].