BOARD OF EDUCATION
OF THE BOROUGH OF RUTHERFORD, DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT, THE
GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,
INTERVENOR-RESPONDENT.
14 NJ 31
December 7, 1953
HELD: YES. "The Protestants would feel that the school is getting behind this
thing; the Catholics would feel that the school is getting behind a Protestant
affair; the Jews would feel that the school is getting behind the Protestant
religion as opposed to their religion; and the people who don't accept any
religion would feel that the school is actually trying to teach the religion
through this means."
This is more than mere "accommodation" of religion permitted in the Zorach
case. The school's part in this distribution is an active one and cannot be
sustained on the basis of a mere assistance to religion.
We are here concerned with a vital question involving the very foundation of
our civilization. Centuries ago our forefathers fought and died for the
principles now contained in the Bill of Rights of the Federal and New Jersey
Constitutions. It is our solemn duty to preserve these rights and to prohibit
any encroachment upon them. To permit the distribution of the King James
version of the Bible in the public schools of this State would be to cast aside
all the progress made in the United States and throughout New Jersey in the
field of religious toleration and freedom. We would be renewing the ancient
struggles among the various religious faiths to the detriment of all. This we
must decline to do.
The judgment below is reversed and the resolution of the Board of Education
of the Borough of Rutherford under review is stricken.
For reversal Chief Justice VANDERBILT, and Justices HEHER, OLIPHANT,
WACHENFELD, BURLING, JACOBS and BRENNAN 7.
For affirmance None.