BERNARD TUDOR, TUDOR , PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT PLAINTI FF-APPELLANT,, v. BOARD OF EDUCATION EDUCATION OF THE BOROUGH OF RUTHERFORD, DEFENDANT DEF ENDANT-RESPONDENT -RESPONDENT,, THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, INTERVENOR-RESPONDENT.
14 NJ 31 December 7, 1953 FACTS: The plaint plaintif if Bernar Bernard d Tudor is an adher adherent ent o the Je!ish Je!ish reli" reli"ion ion,,
!hile plaintif #alph $eco%ue is a member o the &atholic aith, each bein" a Ne! Jerse' citi(en and ta)pa'er o #utherord and a parent o a pupil in a #utherord public school* +ach contends that the ideon Bible is -a sectarian !or. !or. o pecu peculi liar ar reli" eli"io ious us /alu /alue e and and si"n si"ni0 i0ca canc nce e to memb member ers s o the the rotestant aith*- 2r* Tudor claimin" that -its distribution to children o the Je!ish aith /iolates the 3 teachin"s, tenets and principles o Judaism,!hile 2r* $eco%ue states that -its distribution to children o &atholic aith /iolates the teachin"s, tenets and principles o &atholicism*- ter this action !as commenced, the child o plaintif #alph $eco%ue transerred rom the publ public ic sc scho hool ol to a &ath &athol olic ic par parochi ochial al sc scho hool ol and to the the e)ten )tentt that that the the complaint !as based upon his status as a parent, the issue became moot* The 6tate o Ne! Jerse' !as ori"inall' named as a part' deendant but the action as to it has been dismissed* The 6'na"o"ue &ouncil o merica and the National &ommunit' #elations d/isor' &ouncil ha/e submitted a brie amici curiae* ISSUE: 8N the distribution o the ideon bible amon" students prohibits reedom o reli"ion HELD: +6* -The rotestants !ould eel that the school is "ettin" behind this
thin"; the &atholics !ould eel that the school is "ettin" behind a rotestant afair; the Je!s !ould eel that the school is "ettin" behind the rotestant reli"ion as opposed to their reli"ion; and the people !ho donederal and Ne! Jerse' &onstitutions* ?t is our solemn dut' to preser/e these ri"hts and to prohibit an' encroachment upon them* To permit the distribution o the @in" James /ersion o the Bible in the public schools o this 6tate !ould be to cast aside all the pro"ress made in the Anited 6tates and throu"hout Ne! Jerse' in the 0eld o reli"ious toleration and reedom* e !ould be rene!in" the ancient stru""les amon" the /arious reli"ious aiths to the detriment o all* This !e must decline to do*
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The ud"ment belo! is re/ersed re/ersed and the resolution o the Board o +ducation o the Borou"h o #utherord under re/ie! is stric.en* >or >or re/er re/ersal sal &hie &hie Justic Justice e CND+#B ND+#B?$ ?$T, T, and Justic Justices es ++#, ++#, 8$? 8$?NT NT,, &+N>+$D, &+N>+$D, BA#$?N, J&8B6 J&8B6 and B#+NNN 7* >or aErmance None*
