N.J. Bishops Pray Against Marriage Equality

Catholic bishops in New Jersey instructed priests over the weekend to read and distribute a letter that asked parishioners to pray that state lawmakers do not vote for a marriage equality bill.

The bishops' letter said that marriage between a man and a woman was under assault by the proposed marriage equality bill, according to Newark's Star-Ledger.

"It says prayer is timely 'because marriage faces challenges from a society more focused on individual satisfaction than on the Gospel,'" the Star-Ledger reported.

"One of the most serious challenges," said the letter, "is the current effort to pass bills in the New Jersey legislature that would change the very definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman in order to allow same-sex 'marriage.' We must not stand silent in the face of this serious challenge."

State legislators are considering whether to bring the marriage equality bill to a vote during the lame-duck session that began last week. It is unclear whether the bill will come to the floor, with some leaders suggesting they would rather avoid a vote.