School system defends coach after prayer complaint
by AP News Now
Aug 30, 2012 | 2093 views | 12 12 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

ROSSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Officials at a northwest Georgia high school are defending its football team's practice of having student-led prayers and church-held meals before games.

Walker County Superintendent Damon Raines said at a Wednesday news conference that Ridgeland High School isn't violating the First Amendment rights of the players and that its football team will continue having the prayers and meals.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports (http://bit.ly/Pu0Iyl) that the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation accused football coach Mark Mariakis of taking athletes to church where a Christian message was preached, of leading postgame prayers and pressuring team members to attend a Christian football camp, along with other accusations.

Raines said he believes the coach is only using motivational speeches to encourage the athletes to display upstanding character on and off the field.

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Comments
(12)
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KnowstheONETRUEGOD
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September 03, 2012
This country will soon be be condemned by God if people do not learn to forget the word religion and turn the only GOD that actually exists in this universe. Jesus alone can save you from the fires of hell.
Reply
Watcher...
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August 31, 2012
It looks like the Walker County School District will not roll over for the FFRF.

Good for them!
Reply
Lib in Cobb
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August 31, 2012
@chatarri: There is no need to pity me for any reason. I am not sure what point you are attempting to make. The population at large is made up of more than just children.
Reply
chatarri
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August 31, 2012
Lib in Cobb - I pity you. Children should know the love and support of their neighbors and communities. I would not be screaming or blocking any group - regardless of race, creed, color, religion or sexual orientation - who choose to actively and positively serve our children. Children learn by what they see. I sincerely pity the examples set forth by narrow minded people who are not changing our world for the better. These are the ones our children are learning from - and the impact on our society is not a positive one.
Reply
Watcher...
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August 31, 2012
To: Lib in Cobb,

This issue is NOT settled!
Reply
Lib in Cobb
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August 31, 2012
I grew up in New Hyde Park, NY. That may not mean anything to you, but it was the center of the prayer in school controversy in 1962.

See: Engle v. Vitale

Supreme Court decision

According to The Supreme Court of The United States it HAS been settled. You may not like the decision, but it IS the law of the land.
Watcher...
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August 30, 2012
How would CCSD have approached this issue?

I'll bet that they would have quickly complied with the demands of FFRF?
Reply
Lib in Cobb
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August 31, 2012
Watcher: As well they should comply. Prayer in school is not permitted for any religion, this was settled years ago. If the prayer was Islamic prayer, you would be barking loudly about this.

This freedom from all religion, not just Christianity.
Larietta
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August 30, 2012
What a "terrible" thing to want to instill love, kindness, and decency in our youth today. I will keep the people from Freedom From Religion Foundation in my prayers.
Reply
Lib in Cobb
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August 31, 2012
Larietta: Thank you, but the Freedom From Religion Foundation doesn't want or need your prayers. What is expected from any school district is to completely avoid these types of situations whether it be Christian or any other religion. I will bet you would object if the coach were Muslim and he was holding Call To Prayer meetings five times per day. The issue of prayer in schools was addressed many years ago. A minute of silence is acceptable, but not full blown prayer.
EolithRoberts
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August 30, 2012
This country is on a downward spiral when they let someone like the Freedom From Religion is doing.

They don't want freedom from religion, nor do they want freedom of religion. These people are a mixed up group who are trying to promote and establish satanic worship, and who are using the legal system to do it.

Reply
Lib in Cobb
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August 31, 2012
Eolith: Freedom From Religion includes Satanic worship. How are you able to twist this into Satanic worship is well beyond reasonable thinking. Come up for air and look around, you may learn something.
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