“TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…”
Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation
The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026.
The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion.
I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:
“… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met.
This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …”
I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.”
Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility.
For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received.
Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words:
“The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.”
The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit.
So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.”
For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way.
I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence.
The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises.
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