TRENTON — The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey filed a lawsuit today to stop the state from giving more than $11 million in construction funds to two religious colleges. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey filed a lawsuit today to block the state from awarding $11 million to two New Jersey religious colleges. Udi Ofer, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said the awards are a violation of the separation of church and state. Photo courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
The money is slated to go to Beth Medrash Govoha, a Lakewood school that trains orthodox Jewish rabbis, and Princeton Theological Seminary, a school that trains Christian ministers. The private schools are among 46 New Jersey colleges and universities due to split $1.3 billion in taxpayer funds for campus construction and renovation projects.
The ACLU lawsuit petitions the court to block the state from awarding the grants to the two religious schools.
“We support freedom of religion; however the government has no business funding religious ministries,” said Ed Barocas, legal director of the ACLU of New Jersey. “Taxpayers should not foot the bill to train clergy or provide religious instruction, but the state is attempting to do exactly that.”
