New Jersey bishops call for civility, conscience in 2025 election
October 2, 2025 at 4:25 p.m.
Ahead of the upcoming election, the Catholic bishops of New Jersey have released a new collaborative video about the Church’s teaching on “Faithful Citizenship.”
In the video, which runs about three and one-half minutes, the bishops emphasize that voting is not just a civic duty, but a spiritual responsibility. Each voicing a different part but endorsing the full message, the participating bishops include:
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton
Coadjutor Archbishop James F. Checchio, Archdiocese of New Orleans, and administrator of the Diocese of Metuchen
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson
Bishop Joseph A. Williams, Diocese of Camden
Their message states, “God calls each of us as Catholics to further the work of His kingdom. One important way we can promote good values in our communities and in our nation is by participating in the political process. If you do not bring God’s voice into the voting booth and the decisions shaping our country — who will?”
This is the second Faithful Citizenship video project sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Conference. James King, executive director, explained the project’s ongoing purpose: “With the November 4 election fast approaching — and with New Jersey voters preparing to cast ballots that will elect a new governor, members of the General Assembly as well as several local municipal and school board elections — the bishops used this moment to remind Catholics of their obligation to participate in the democratic process.”
King continued, “Additionally, the bishops remind the faithful that it is not the Church’s place to tell them how to vote. Each of us has the right — and the responsibility — to follow our conscience, shaped by Scripture and the Church’s wisdom.”
King said the message is not only about voting and preparing to vote, but a call to action for all Catholics to help bring civility back to our political process. “Unfortunately, today, we see how political division has affected our society. Catholics are not immune from effects of political division, too many of us allow our politics to shape our faith when our faith should shape our politics. We must remember that Christ calls us to be peacemakers.”
The bishops offer two key resources to help Catholics prepare to vote and bring civility back to political discourse. They are:
- Civilize It – A call to bring civility, compassion, and clarity to public discourse, following the example of the Good Samaritan.
- Faithful Citizenship – A practical guide offering “dos and don’ts” during election season, including how to register, where to vote, and how to evaluate candidates and issues through a moral lens.
The video closes with a simple but powerful call to action:
“Your voice matters in New Jersey. Let us vote for what is good, what is true, and what builds a better future — for you, your family, and our neighbors. May God bless you.”
The video is available in English and with Spanish captioning. It has been distributed to the diocesan media outlets in New Jersey. To watch the full video, click HERE, or view below. To access voter resources, visit NJCatholic.org.
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Ahead of the upcoming election, the Catholic bishops of New Jersey have released a new collaborative video about the Church’s teaching on “Faithful Citizenship.”
In the video, which runs about three and one-half minutes, the bishops emphasize that voting is not just a civic duty, but a spiritual responsibility. Each voicing a different part but endorsing the full message, the participating bishops include:
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Newark
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton
Coadjutor Archbishop James F. Checchio, Archdiocese of New Orleans, and administrator of the Diocese of Metuchen
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson
Bishop Joseph A. Williams, Diocese of Camden
Their message states, “God calls each of us as Catholics to further the work of His kingdom. One important way we can promote good values in our communities and in our nation is by participating in the political process. If you do not bring God’s voice into the voting booth and the decisions shaping our country — who will?”
This is the second Faithful Citizenship video project sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Conference. James King, executive director, explained the project’s ongoing purpose: “With the November 4 election fast approaching — and with New Jersey voters preparing to cast ballots that will elect a new governor, members of the General Assembly as well as several local municipal and school board elections — the bishops used this moment to remind Catholics of their obligation to participate in the democratic process.”
King continued, “Additionally, the bishops remind the faithful that it is not the Church’s place to tell them how to vote. Each of us has the right — and the responsibility — to follow our conscience, shaped by Scripture and the Church’s wisdom.”
King said the message is not only about voting and preparing to vote, but a call to action for all Catholics to help bring civility back to our political process. “Unfortunately, today, we see how political division has affected our society. Catholics are not immune from effects of political division, too many of us allow our politics to shape our faith when our faith should shape our politics. We must remember that Christ calls us to be peacemakers.”
The bishops offer two key resources to help Catholics prepare to vote and bring civility back to political discourse. They are:
- Civilize It – A call to bring civility, compassion, and clarity to public discourse, following the example of the Good Samaritan.
- Faithful Citizenship – A practical guide offering “dos and don’ts” during election season, including how to register, where to vote, and how to evaluate candidates and issues through a moral lens.
The video closes with a simple but powerful call to action:
“Your voice matters in New Jersey. Let us vote for what is good, what is true, and what builds a better future — for you, your family, and our neighbors. May God bless you.”
The video is available in English and with Spanish captioning. It has been distributed to the diocesan media outlets in New Jersey. To watch the full video, click HERE, or view below. To access voter resources, visit NJCatholic.org.