“And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.”
Anyone who has seen the movie Hoosiers will remember this scene where the coach of the small town and over-matched Hickory Huskers watches while his team is lead in prayer by the team chaplain right before they slew the big city Indiana-South Bend high school team dramatizing what in real life has gone down as one of the biggest upsets in high school athletic history. Even in deep in the heart of ultra-religious Baptist country Coach Norman Dale must have known what was coming down the road by not joining in on pre-game prayer.
East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden must not have seen Hoosiers. The coach has asked the court to review a ruling from the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in April in which an appeals panel reversed a 2006 ruling that permitted Borden to silently bow his head and “take a knee” with players as the team prayed. The judges said the school board’s policy barring school staff from joining in student-led prayer was constitutional. Coach Borden later quit the team rather than be prohibited from participating in team prayers. Classic Establishment Clause separation of church and state issue. Should the Supreme Court take a new look at this issue? It is an issue that has support on both sides. The American Football Coaches Association held its annual convention last month, and filed a petition supporting Borden’s case. Its board also voted unanimously to support Borden. The Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a civil liberties watchdog group based in Washington, D.C is lined up for a goal line stance on the other side.
Can the coach add his prayers to the mix for Jesus to help kick the game winning field goal? If you look at previous Supreme Court decisions, it appears that Jesus will shank this one “wide right” when the Supreme Court rules.
In 2000, the court ruled that hat a Texas public school district policy permitting “student led” prayer at high school athletic events was unconstitutional, and violated the separation of church and state. The case was Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe. In finding that such a policy violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment the court stated:
“School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible because it sends the ancillary message to members of the audience who are nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community,”
Lower federal courts have also found that it is also unconstitutional for a school official, including a coach, to initiate or lead a team in prayer.
As we sit here today the law of the land is that the only type of public school prayer that is permitted is voluntary prayer presented and led by students without official permission or sanction may be constitutional, provided that it is not coercive in any way. Duncanville Independent School Dist., v. John Doe, 994 F. 2d 160 (5th Cir. 1993). If coach Bowden stood there and prayed quietly to himself(which he certainly had the option to) ,no harm no foul and Touchdown Jesus is back on the playing field. By participating even passively in the voluntary team pre-game prayer, it certailny will be looked at as a public “sanctioning” of the activiity by a school official and therefore violative of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In my opinion it is not even a close call. My prediction is that the Supreme Court will refuse to hear his appeal and Jesus will have to have to punt.
The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the case within the next two weeks. Will Jesus be “wide right”?
October 30th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Yep. The law is there for a reason. Bible bangers have their place outside of school to do so, as do Mormons, Muslims, Jews and Atheists. School is for the three “R’s” but perhaps it should include repentant!
Like prayer is to the one praying, the flag is a mere symbol/vehicle of our patriotism and should not be the end all of our country’s identity. Same with one’s relationship with their higher power; if they must violate the law and grab a knee in open disregard, then I would question the real strength of their faith.
And no, Jesus can’t kick. I just opined about the SBC’s role in condemning birth control so this topic really gets my goat.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Yes it’s a shame that the constitution is so inconvenient. Perhaps we should just rip it up and make up our own rules.
As far as the comments about the growing anti-Christian bias you have one party to thank for that – the right wing republicans who try to force it down peoples throats. Even try to force anyone to do anything? Doesn’t work that way.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Is there even a question? The Constitution CLEARLY outlines what it has to say about religion, and that is that no one shall be given any religious test as a qualification of office. That’s it. That’s all it needs. This is not a constitutional issue, and as much as I hate to say it, only time will weed out the religious zealots until at last the issue is behind us. It makes it hard when you have countries like China who are by law atheist, it makes the rest of us look bad.
Exercising religious freedom is fine at home and in appropriate places, but I don’t want my children being overrun by a nation of sheep who like to follow the words of men who on occasion break out the crystal meth and screw male prostitutes.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
How is not allowing the man to participate in a voluntary student led prayer any less a violation of civil rights than forcing a student to participate. These instances have to be dealt with on a case by case basis.
If it is found that he is initiating or leading than by all means enforce the separation issue. I understand the argument that he has the power to influence them. But to deny this man the right to participate in something the students initiated is ridiculous. Not to mention a violation of his rights.
Michael,
your comment starts out with the phrase “Bible Bangers” which is incredibly stereotypical and prejudice. I pray… I believe in God! But I don’t push my views on anyone… ever.
Personally I think telling them what the cant’ with regards to religious practices is just a much a violation of making them something in particular.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Matt P.,
Doesn’t referring to this mass of people as “a nation of sheep who like to follow the words of men who on occasion break out the crystal meth and screw male prostitutes.” Sound an awful lot like a ridiculous and naive stereotype that a moron 90 year old right-wing bible banger would use to describe all the “hippie faggots” trying to desicrate the bible by allowing gay marriage. Or the “Pagan Devil Worshipers” who want Under God removed??? You are just as bad as they are!
The horrible stereotypes and lack of understanding from both side in issues of morality is the NUMBER ONE problem in this country.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Joe the PLumber,
This guy in this instance (ffotbal coach mentioned above) didnt try to force anything down anyones throat.
I am completely in favor of the seperation of church and state. 100%
We have to legislate with common sense though. Period.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I find it ironic that they will castigate the Christian prayer while schools routinely have readings from the Koran and allow Muslims to pray.
We restrict those that the establishment wishes to destroy but applaud those who would do us harm in the name of diversity.
We are a nation lost and will soon be pulled apart by those within who wish our downfall.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Eventually Xtianity and the other “modern” religions will go the way of past myths like Greek Mythology.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:41 am
I could say quite a bit about this subject. Things that the “enlightened” would have a hard time dealing with rationally. But this is all I want to say to the “tolerant”.
Atheism is the last accepted form of bigotry in our country.
Congratulations bigots your winning.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:48 am
I understand each person’s right to be heard. Do realize that if we keep letting them take freedoms away that one day will not be able to cheer for our team in the stands because it is detrimental to the self esteem of the other team. We will give these young people a complex by rooting for their defeat while they are trying their best. You may laugh, but we are headed in that direction.
If coach wants to join his team in prayer it should be his right; just as it is his right not to join in. This is not all about religion, but the freedoms we are giving up. What are you going to say when someone steps up and sues the school system because they play the national anthem? Are we not infringing on those from different countries. If we let them the government will legislate every decision for us. Most people do not realize the freedoms they are losing because a few speak out against something
October 31st, 2008 at 2:03 am
or a better question , can the Easter Bunny dunk a Basketball.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:27 am
is that a real church building with the huge Jesus Statue?
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
“Atheism is the last accepted form of bigotry in our country”
I thought I had read every form of ridiculous bumper-sticker tripe, until I read this comment posted by Steve.
While there are plenty of atheist bigots, let’s not forget the anti-Mormon bigots that stalked Mitt Romney. Remember how only 38% of polled Americans said they could never vote for a Mormon? The pastor of the Christian church I USED to attend said, when discussing the supremacy of the bible over any other text, that “Mormons were an evil heretical cult.” Nobody in my enormous congregation batted an eye.
Let us also not forget the Catholic and Southern Baptist prohibition of female preachers. Homophobia is still a perfectly accepted form of bigotry in some circles. What about all the anti-gay bigots in California that are screaming and yelling about Proposition 8? Don’t forget many fundamentalist Christians’ favorite passtime, Catholic bashing. And so on, and so forth.
Please put down the O’Riley Factor Taling Point Memo and look around, Steve. There is plenty of bigotry for all of us.