Are state constitutions’ prohibitions on aid to churches legal?

[rlvaughn]

Are state constitutions’ prohibitions on aid to churches legal?

The Becket Fund, which describes itself as a non-profit, public-interest law firm defending religious liberty, says a case headed toward the New Jersey Supreme Court presents one of the first opportunities for a state supreme court to interpret the United States Supreme Court’s June 26 decision in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer.

 

[carpro]

Depends on the circumstances. So sayeth SCOTUS.

 

[rlvaughn]

The particular circumstances in the case in the article is whether churches in New Jersey (with worshipping congregations) have the same right to receive historic preservation grants for historic buildings. It is possible SCOTUS could have a say in this one as well, but what SCOTUS said in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer could influence the decision in the NJ courts.

 

[carpro]

The circumstances seem to be a fit for a repeat of the first SCOTUS decision. The New Jersey Superior Court got it right.