The Freedom From Religion Foundation is taking an Alabama High School to task after 18 football players were recently baptized .
18 players for the Washington County High school were baptized in a feeding trough by Chatom Baptist Church’s pastor in May. The event was recorded and posted to Facebook where most people rejoiced in the sight.
One person, however, seemingly did not find the baptism of the players appropriate, prompting that person to reach out to the FFRF.
FFRF – an atheist law firm – sent a letter to the Washington County Schools Superintendent, claiming that the coach was participating in “illegal” activities because of his involvement in the players’ baptisms.
Christopher Line, a legal fellow at the FFRF, wrote in his letter to the Superintendent that it is “illegal for coaches to organize or participate in religious activities with students, including baptisms.”
Evangelical pastor Franklin Graham weighed in on the complaint by thanking God for “coaches and teachers across our country who are boldly living out their faith in Christ.”
Graham wrote in a post on Facebook, “These students who had put their faith in Jesus Christ were baptized in a feeding trough while everyone celebrated—well, almost everyone.”
Deputy general counsel for First Liberty Institute Jeremy Dys noted that the baptisms are exactly what the constitution aims to protect with the First Amendment right to Free Exercise.