"No one wants to watch a loved one be in pain," she said, but added that many people have seen families come together and reestablish relationships when someone is nearing the end of their life.
Riley also expressed concern that the law sends a mixed message on suicide, particularly because there has been much effort to prevent young adults and teenagers from ending their lives.
"This is just legalized suicide," she said.
The Church's opposition to assisted suicide is longstanding. In 1980, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a "Declaration on Euthanasia" which fully explained that the Church is opposed to the practice.
"It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying," the declaration said.
"Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action."
Although in favor of the act, Murphy has not indicated when he will be signing the bill into law.
Once the law is signed, New Jersey will join a handful of other states that allow medical professionals to prescribe lethal drugs. Currently, assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, Colorado, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, as well as in Montana through a state Supreme Court ruling.
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.