New Jersey Supreme Court Wants More Facts on Religious School Grants

The New Jersey Supreme Court is putting off a decision on whether to block grants the administration of former Gov. Chris Christie awarded to two religious schools in the state.

In 2013, Christie pledged $10.6 million to Beth Medrash Govoha, a yeshiva in Lakewood, and $645,323 to Princeton Theological Seminary. The ACLU, along with two other organizations sued to stop the payments. 

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today that the state must provide more facts to the court, something the Christie Administration fought since the suit began. Once the facts are in, the court says it will issue a decision on the case.

Ed Barocas, legal director the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU, contends the grants violate the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state.

"Because that would be our taxpayer money going to supporting the proselytizing of particular religions," Barocas said. 

Barocas said the ACLU does not object to state grants to religiously-affiliated schools that provide a secular education."Both the yeshiva and the seminary train ministers of their respective faiths, and they teach religion from a sectarian point of view. Our tax dollars cannot support that," he said.

During his time in office, Christie's administration defended the grants, stating they were for construction and renovation projects and not for any kind of religious instruction.