Court OKs Bonds for Christian School

Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled, 5 to 2, that the state can issue construction bonds for the Christian-based Regent University founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson without violating the separation of church and state. The court said the bond issue is legal because no public money would be spent and the state’s credit would not be at stake. The court did rule, however, that Regent’s School of Divinity may not use buildings financed by the bonds. The court said the Virginia Constitution bars the state from helping to provide religious training.