Religious Freedom

The ACLU strives to safeguard the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty by ensuring that laws and governmental practices neither promote religion, nor interfere with its free exercise.

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The ACLU strives to safeguard the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty by ensuring that laws and governmental practices neither promote religion, nor interfere with its free exercise.

The separation of church and state allows religious liberty to thrive by safeguarding both religion and government from the undue influences of the other.

The Latest

Press Release
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ACLU-NJ Statement on Senate Bills S1292 and S2937

ACLU-NJ condemns bias-based harassment or violence committed against all New Jerseyans, including Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities. However, as proponents of free speech, we should be concerned whenever the government forces people to accept its view of the world.
Issue Areas: Religious Freedom, Discrimination
Press Release
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New Jersey Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Woman Previously Ordered to Stop Communicating About Her Religious Divorce and Asking Her Community for Help

A New Jersey appellate court reversed an unconstitutional trial court decision that prohibited a woman from speaking on social media about her desire to obtain a religious divorce from her husband, whom she described as abusive.
Issue Areas: Free Speech & Expression, Religious Freedom
Press Release
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ACLU-NJ and civil rights groups seek to reinstate challenge to NYPD spying on Muslims in New Jersey

Issue Areas: Speech, Privacy & Technology, Police & Law Enforcement, Discrimination, Religious Freedom, Privacy
Press Release
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NJ Appellate Division dismisses contempt finding against ACLU-NJ client who refused to remove religious head-covering in court

Issue Areas: Criminal Legal System, Religious Freedom
Court Case
Jun 02, 2011

Tenafly Eruv Association v. The Borough of Tenafly

Court Case
Oct 09, 2014

Hassan v. The City of New York

Challenge to surveillance by the New York Police Department of Muslims in New Jersey.
Court Case
Jun 01, 2018

Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County Freeholders

Amicus brief in challenge to Morris County’s use of taxpayers’ money for church repairs, which violated the New Jersey State Constitution.