I am a devout and practicing Catholic. I have absolutely no problem with student initiated prayer or religious practices. But in this case the football coach initiated the practice. It is therefore not a matter of religious freedom, because is anyone going to say no to the football coach? You have no idea whether or not any of these students are doing this willingly or from religious conviction, because the coach is sponsoring this.
There is nothing in this country, no court decision, nothing that prevents anyone from praying in public schools. Everyone, students, teachers, who want to can pray in public school any time they want to. When I worked in public schools, I used to say my rosary out on the football bleachers anytime I wanted. No one stopped me, no one commented negatively.
What a teacher, adminstrator or coach cannot do is put a student in a coercive position where they have to pray. I'm sure if I said a rosary or a prayer in class some students would do it out of conviction, but some would do it because they were afraid I'd give them a bad grade. That is coercion, that is forcing religion down people's throats, and that is wrong and against the will of God. God wants people to come to Him through their own path, not because the coach or teacher is telling them they have to.
Cheerleaders’ religious signs draw fire
I am a devout and practicing Catholic. I have absolutely no problem with student initiated prayer or religious practices. But in this case the football coach initiated the practice. It is therefore not a matter of religious freedom, because is anyone going to say no to the football coach? You have no idea whether or not any of these students are doing this willingly or from religious conviction, because the coach is sponsoring this.
There is nothing in this country, no court decision, nothing that prevents anyone from praying in public schools. Everyone, students, teachers, who want to can pray in public school any time they want to. When I worked in public schools, I used to say my rosary out on the football bleachers anytime I wanted. No one stopped me, no one commented negatively.
What a teacher, adminstrator or coach cannot do is put a student in a coercive position where they have to pray. I'm sure if I said a rosary or a prayer in class some students would do it out of conviction, but some would do it because they were afraid I'd give them a bad grade. That is coercion, that is forcing religion down people's throats, and that is wrong and against the will of God. God wants people to come to Him through their own path, not because the coach or teacher is telling them they have to.