Groups Sue NJ For Religious School Funding

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against New Jersey, claiming the state awarded more than $11 million in funds to religious schools.

The state announced in April that it planned to give $10.6 million to a Talmudic studies center in Lakewood, Beth Medrash Govoha.

New Jersey is also slated to give $645,323 to Princeton Theological Seminary.

The ACLU and other groups say taxpayers should not pay for the training of clergy and providing state funds to religious institutions violates the state constitution.

Princeton Theological Seminary declined comment. Beth Medrash Govoha did not respond to a phone call.

The ACLU's national and New Jersey chapters and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit in Trenton.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.