Jewish groups are divided over the Supreme Court ruling on religious charities. Monday’s 5-4 ruling in the case of Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation determined that ordinary taxpayers cannot file suit against a White House initiative that helps religious charities obtain federal money. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism called the decision “lamentable,” and the Anti-Defamation League, which joined civil rights groups in a friend-of-the-court brief urging the court not to overturn the taxpayers’ right to challenge inappropriate government endorsement of religion in federal court, expressed “disappointment” with the ruling. “It cannot be that the many billions of dollars that have been made available to faith-based institutions under the President’s program are immune from challenge by taxpayers,” ADL officials said in a statement. The Orthodox Union lauded the decision. “This constitutional policy will allow for the continuation of appropriate interactions between the federal government and faith-based groups,” O.U. public policy director Nathan Diament said.
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