New Jersey Judge Rules Churches Eligible for Grants

Two churches in New Jersey, Mendham Methodist Church and Zion Lutheran Church, have secured a preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Evelyn Padin, allowing them to apply for historic preservation grants despite a county policy that previously excluded religious entities. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit initiated by the churches against Morris County officials, who adopted the exclusion policy following a 2018 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that barred public funds from being used for religious institutions. Judge Padin noted that the county's policy likely violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment by denying public aid based solely on the churches' religious nature. The churches were supported in their legal efforts by First Liberty Institute and the University of Notre Dame's Religious Liberty Clinic, which argued that the exclusion caused irreparable harm. The ruling raises implications about the balance between government funding and religious freedom, and whether such funding indirectly promotes religious activities. The outcome of the case will be closely monitored as it navigates the complex intersection of church and state in public funding.