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High School Cancels Football Prayers In Response To Group's Complaint

By Howard M. Friedman

My Fox Memphis reported yesterday that in response to a  complaint by the Freedom from Religion Foundation (full text of letter), Hamilton County, Tennessee school superintendent Jim Scales has ordered an end to public prayers at a district high school's football games. According to yesterday's Chattanooga Times Free Press , traditionally Hamilton County's Soddy-Daisy High School has broadcast Christian prayers over loudspeakers at football games and at graduation the salutatorian delivers a prayer. Before the superintendent's decision, Hamilton County school board member Rhonda Thurman defended the practice saying that the prayers are part of the school's tradition anyone who does not wish to hear them can "put their fingers in their ears."  She continued" "Everybody is offended by something. I'm offended by a lot of those little girls running around with their thong panties showing, but I can't make that go away." And a parent of the student football team manager said: "People who find Christianity contrary to their beliefs shouldn?t be offended that [Christians] have the freedom to express their religious beliefs."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 21, 2010 (boomark / email).