Posted by PS# on August 29, 2003 at 10:01:08:

State withholding $500,000 in aid for two Roman Catholic schools

The Associated Press
8/29/2003, 7:42 a.m. ET

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The state has delayed the release of $500,000 that was set aside for two Roman Catholic high schools at the behest of two state lawmakers.

The decision announced Thursday came as the American Civil Liberties Union was planning to seek a temporary restraining order to block the grants, claiming it was a violation of the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. However, the state agreed to withhold the funds before Superior Court Judge Andrew Smithson could rule on the issue.

The money was to be evenly divided between St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City and Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, two all-boys schools that planned to use the funds for capital improvements. It was added to the state budget June 15 — two weeks before the spending plan was adopted — at the request of Sen. Bernard Kenny, D-Hudson, and Democratic Senate President Richard Codey, who represents Essex County.

Codey said he was annoyed that the ACLU would challenge the expenditure, noting that he also worked to get a $100,000 state grant for the Jewish Community Center in West Orange 10 years ago when it was engaged in a capital expansion project.

"I've fought hard and have been able to win money for the Jewish Community Center and numerous African-American churches for social programs," Codey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions. "Whether it is Seton Hall or somewhere else, they service children of all religions."

Kenny, who sits on the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has also said there was nothing improper about the grant. One of his sons attends St. Peter's and another has graduated from the school.

St. Peter's officials plan to put the money toward a $2 million artificial-turf playing field across the street from the school, while Seton Hall Prep wants to put its share toward a $2.2 million expansion project that would include three new classrooms, a doubling in size of its cafeteria and the expansion of the locker room area.

Edward Barocas, senior staff attorney for the ACLU, said the problem is that the money is only going to the two schools and is not available to others.

"It should be noted that funds often flow to religious schools from accepted government programs that are both neutral and generally available to all schools or all students," he said. "These grants, however, are neither neutral toward religion ... nor generally available."

Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office, declined to comment on the matter because the state had not yet had a chance to file its response with the court.

Follow Ups:

• Re: St Peter's Prep Not to Get Taxpayer 250K Save the Taxpayers! 11:49:11 08/30/03 (0)
• Re: St Peter's Prep Not to Get Taxpayer 250K Pride and Glory 01:54:06 08/30/03 (0)
• Another Kenny Scam Exposed Justice For All 11:19:14 08/29/03 (1)
  • BOBBY JACKSON Exposed MOVING LIPS 17:32:54 08/29/03 (0)

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: State withholding $500,000 in aid for two Roman Catholic schools 

: The Associated Press 
: 8/29/2003, 7:42 a.m. ET 

: TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The state has delayed the release of $500,000 that was set aside for two Roman Catholic high schools at the behest of two state lawmakers.

: The decision announced Thursday came as the American Civil Liberties Union was planning to seek a temporary restraining order to block the grants, claiming it was a violation of the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. However, the state agreed to withhold the funds before Superior Court Judge Andrew Smithson could rule on the issue.

: The money was to be evenly divided between St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City and Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, two all-boys schools that planned to use the funds for capital improvements. It was added to the state budget June 15 — two weeks before the spending plan was adopted — at the request of Sen. Bernard Kenny, D-Hudson, and Democratic Senate President Richard Codey, who represents Essex County.

: Codey said he was annoyed that the ACLU would challenge the expenditure, noting that he also worked to get a $100,000 state grant for the Jewish Community Center in West Orange 10 years ago when it was engaged in a capital expansion project.

: "I've fought hard and have been able to win money for the Jewish Community Center and numerous African-American churches for social programs," Codey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions. "Whether it is Seton Hall or somewhere else, they service children of all religions."

: Kenny, who sits on the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has also said there was nothing improper about the grant. One of his sons attends St. Peter's and another has graduated from the school.

: St. Peter's officials plan to put the money toward a $2 million artificial-turf playing field across the street from the school, while Seton Hall Prep wants to put its share toward a $2.2 million expansion project that would include three new classrooms, a doubling in size of its cafeteria and the expansion of the locker room area.

: Edward Barocas, senior staff attorney for the ACLU, said the problem is that the money is only going to the two schools and is not available to others.

: "It should be noted that funds often flow to religious schools from accepted government programs that are both neutral and generally available to all schools or all students," he said. "These grants, however, are neither neutral toward religion ... nor generally available."

: Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office, declined to comment on the matter because the state had not yet had a chance to file its response with the court.


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