New York, NY, July 12, 1995...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed President Clinton's announcement today concerning permissible forms of voluntary, individual prayer in the public schools. In a speech delivered at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, the President announced that he has issued a directive to the Department of Education (DOE) to provide written guidance to school districts throughout the country on permissible forms of school prayer.

"We are pleased the President emphasized all of the religious activities already permissible in public schools," said David H. Strassler, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "By so doing, he has demonstrated why the proposed `Religious Equality Amendment' is misguided and unnecessary."

His directive draws from a document which ADL helped prepare that was subsequently signed by a coalition of 35 religious groups. The document, "A Joint Statement of Current Law," will guide the DOE in summarizing current law on school prayer. In issuing the directive, President Clinton reaffirmed his support for the First Amendment as currently written.

"We have no doubt that the President is deeply committed -- as all Americans are -- to the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution," Strassler and Foxman added. "At the same time, we hope the Department of Education's directive will underscore how important it is for public schools to respect religious differences and to avoid religious coercion."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.