New York, NY, June 29, 1995...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Rosenberger v. Rector, requiring the University of Virginia (UVA) to subsidize a student-run religious publication.

"We believe that the University, as a governmental body, should have been constitutionally prohibited from funding any propagation of religious speech," said Robert G. Sugarman, Chair of ADL National Civil Rights Committee. "At its most basic level, the Establishment Clause prohibits public funds from being used to promote religious doctrine, and the magazine in this case was founded to promote `biblical Christianity.'

"It is both ironic and unfortunate that this decision involved the University of Virginia, since two of our nation's Founding Fathers who helped establish the historic separation of church and state had historical links to UVA -- Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison," Sugarman continued.

"However, we are pleased that the Court restated its longstanding position that special dangers exist where the government makes direct payments to religious organizations," he said.

ADL had joined other groups in filing an amicus curiae brief in the case in January.

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.