Court: New Jersey can't give $11M to religious schools

TRENTON, N.J. -- A court has ruled that New Jersey cannot give $11 million in grants to two religious schools.

The state appeals court ruled Thursday that the $10.6 million grant to Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in Lakewood and $645,323 to the Princeton Theological Seminary are unconstitutional.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State had challenged the grants, made as part of $1.3 billion in grants in April 2013.645

New Jersey officials argued that the grants were OK because they were meant to pay for buildings and equipment, not worship or ministries.

The court said in its ruling that it doesn't mean the state can't give money to religious-affiliated schools that have a broader sectarian mission.