An atheist group is flagging an Alabama high school for excessive praying. The complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation came after Brooks High School aired the prayers via loudspeaker before its home football games this year. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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The prayers, which mention Jesus Christ, were also broadcast at youth football games played on the high school field.
“It is coercive and inappropriate to ask students to listen while a prayer is delivered at athletic events,” said foundation attorney Stephanie Schmitt. “This is especially disturbing given the young age of these students.”
The organization sent two letters to the Lauderdale County school district over the pre-game prayers. School superintendent Bill Valentine said the matter was now in the hands of the district attorney.
Once the lawyer does the legal research, the district will make its response, Valentine said.
The foundation is a Wisconsin-based group that advertises itself as the nation’s largest association of atheists, agnostics and skeptics.
Its goals include focusing on the Constitutional separation of church and state. The letters came from the group’s Alabama chapter.
