In advance of Election Day, Catholics heading to the polls in North Jersey are getting a message from the church hierarchy. 

The letter – available on the Archdiocese of Newark’s website – calls not just on Catholics, but all people of faith to “vote in defense of marriage and life.”

Archbishop John Myers says he’s not endorsing a particular candidate or party. But he believes voters should consider issues of same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception which the Roman Catholic Church condemns.

“Certainly many people call us bigots because we speak the truth rather than examining the reasons why.”

Myers is asking priests to read a shortened version of his 16-page letter during each mass.

But James Salt of the left-leaning social justice group Catholics United says that’s not the message many congregants want to hear.

“We don’t want our church known for its divisiveness.”

Archbishop Myers says it’s his obligation to speak what he believes to be the truth.