Atheists vs. High School over Team Prayer, Bible Verses
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ATLANTA (Worthy News)– Atheists are hounding a high school football team that prays and posts scripture on team stationary, claiming both violates the separation of church and state, according to TheBlaze.
Chestatee High School in Gainesville, Georgia, is being dogged by the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center after activists claimed its coaches were too religious.
“We have been informed that the school’s football coaches have been using their position to promote Christianity on the football team by integrating Bible verses into functional team documents and team promotions in various ways,” according to a letter sent to the Hall County School District. “Meanwhile, they have been either leading the team in prayer or participating in team prayers on a regular basis.”
Photos attached to the letter show football players in a circle holding hands and a team workout sheet and banner, both bearing references to scripture.
The Appignani Humanists demand that this activity cease immediately, otherwise a lawsuit could be filed against the district.
A spokesperson for Hall County School District said officials are investigating whether the atheist’s accusations hold any merit.
However, Superintendent Will Schofield told the Gainesville Times that although school personnel should not be leading prayer, their students’ right to invoke God will be protected.
“Certainly adults shouldn’t be leading children in prayers to any particular religion, but one thing we will stand behind is our students’ right to prayer.”