NEW
Preamble
We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to
Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long
permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to
secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain
and establish this Constitution.
Article I
No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of
worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own
conscience; nor under any pretense whatever be compelled to attend any place of
worship contrary to his faith and judgment; nor shall any person be obliged to
pay tithes, taxes, or other rates for building or repairing any church or
churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or
ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right or has deliberately and
voluntarily engaged to perform.
There shall be no establishment of one religious sect in
preference to another; no religious or racial test shall be required as a
qualification for any office or public trust.
No person shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil or
military right, nor be discriminated against in the exercise of any civil or
military right, nor be segregated in the militia or in the public schools,
because of religious principles, race, color, ancestry or national origin.
Article VIII
Exemption from taxation may be granted only by general
laws. Until otherwise provided by law all exemptions from taxation validly
granted and now in existence shall be continued. Exemptions from taxation may
be altered or repealed, except those exempting real and personal property used
exclusively for religious, educational, charitable or cemetery purposes, as
defined by law, and owned by any corporation or association organized and
conducted exclusively for one or more of such purposes and not operating for
profit.