An Oklahoma school district has banned a local Baptist pastor from praying with a high school football team following a complaint filed by a national atheist legal group.
Putnam City Schools will no longer allow the Rev. Mike Keahbone of Cherokee Hills Baptist Church to lead the Putnam City High football team in prayer, the announcement came from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Over the past two years, Keahbone has become one of the most prominent and visual supporters of the Putnam City Pirates football team as he has led an initiative to get his church community more involved to support players whose parents aren’t able to go to the games themselves. The church has also provided pre-game meals for players.
Not only was the 45-year-old Keahbone designated to serve as the team’s chaplain, he has also led the team in prayer before the start of games in the team’s locker room.
But at least one resident complained to the Wisconsin-based FFRF.
FFRF sent a letter to Putnam City Schools in early February arguing that Keahbone’s act of leading the public school football team in prayer before games violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The school district immediately banned the pastor from praying with the team.
Keahbone, who played football in high school, said it broke his heart to know that some players wouldn’t have parents in the stands when they played. He told the Oklahoman, “When I was growing up, I didn’t have a dad in my life and my mom was an alcoholic, she did come on senior night but that was about it. You get used to it, but it hurt.”