A New Jersey Supreme Court unanimous ruling this week that the grant of state funds to college building programs does not violate the church-state separation principle, even if the colleges are religiously-affiliated, was lauded by Julius Berman, president of the National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs. The state funds are provided under the New Jersey Higher Educational Facilities Authority Law. Mr. Berman said that the decision handed down Monday, continued “the overwhelming trend that has been set in recent years in both federal and state courts upholding legitimate governmental aid to the secular programs of religiously-affiliated educational institutions.” He expressed confidence that if the New Jersey decision was appealed to the United States Supreme Court, as a number of decisions on the Issue in various states now are being appealed, “it will be vindicated and the principle will be more firmly established that governments have a responsibility to assist all children, even those attending religiously-affiliated schools.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
