A former manager at a New Jersey used car dealership has filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired after refusing to partake in Christian Bible study and prayer meetings mandated by the owner, according to a report from the NJ Law Journal.

The suit filed by Joseph Haughey, formerly the general manager at CarSense in Mount Holly, also alleges race discrimination at the dealership, the report said.

Haughey charges in the suit that he was told to fire black employees or move them to positions where they did not interact with customers.

While the dealership's owner allegedly fired Haughey for raising his voice at employees, Haughey claims in the lawsuit that this was a cover up for religious discrimination.

Haughey is seeking unpaid wages and pain and suffering.

The lawsuit names CarSense, president Eugene Niconovich and owner and president Francis McGowan as defendants. It was filed in Superior Court in Burlington County on Aug. 14 and removed to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Camden on Aug. 29, the report said.

A call from NJ.com seeking comment from CarSense was not immediately returned Thursday afternoon.