Christian students at an Alabama high school are pushing back against an atheist group after the school received complaints about a pre-game prayer.
According to Faithwire, the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained that Opelika High School violated federal law by praying over the loudspeaker before a game. The group said a parent came to them and said they wanted “to move their children out of the district.”
In response, the district told school leaders that they could only have a “moment of silence” before games.
Superintendent Mark Neighbors said – “We recognize that the United States of America is a nation of laws and we will abide by the current law. Our students are allowed to pray, but our coaches are not allowed to participate.”
The students responded as well. Before a recent kickoff, a group of students recited the Lord’s Prayer together and out loud.
Student Phoebe Darcey told WSFA – You’re taking [prayer] away from the majority, so now we’re having to go about it a different way.”
Trinity United Methodist Church Youth Pastor Steve Bass said the original prayer was not even “overtly Christian.”
“It was always, ‘Hey God, please keep our players safe from injury, help the fans and the players to have good sportsmanship, everyone have a good night,’” he told WFSA. “It was nothing offensive.”
Public schools in the country have long faced controversy for prayer before sporting events. In 2017, another Alabama school district stopped saying the Lord’s Prayer before games. Earlier this month, a Georgia high school was also banned from praying before a football game after an atheist group complained.