Alabama high school in big battle over traditional pre-game football prayer

A group of parents and fans at a Northwest Alabama high school are upset that a group is trying to abolish a traditional pre-game prayer at football games. So they’re handling the problem they way you thought they might. They’ve organized a prayer gathering to pray it doesn’t happen.

Resident Alisha Michael helped organize the prayer gathering. She says a small group is trying to take control and dictate what others can do.

“We want to bless our players we want to protect our players, our band members, our fans, we want their safety and we plan on praying for that safety at the beginning of each ball game.”

Recently the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint with the administration of Brooks High School (Killen, Ala.), demanding that the school stop the pre-game prayers it has been broadcasting over loudspeakers at each home football game. Resident Jeremy Green, who lodged the complaint, contends that since Brooks is a public school, the prayers violate the first amendment.

“Student or faculty led prayer, when endorsed by or sponsored by a public school is unconstitutional and illegal for good reason,” Green said. “This protects the rights of the members of all religions, and the non-religious alike.”

But the pro-prayer contingent are steadfast. They’ve come up with a decal (pictured) that they’re selling to raise funds to stop the complaint, and of course they have a Facebook page, entitled The Brooks Lions Will Pray.

Of course in the wrong hands — say, those of a rival rooting section — that motto could work against the football team.

(Brooks punter shanks kick out of bounds).

Opposing Player: “Ha! Where’s your Messiah now?”

According to several sources, the Brooks administration is currently mulling the situation, and has not ruled. Of course they know that if they side with the prayer parents, it’s a decision that could be overturned in an instant if anyone wanted to take it to court. Legally, the prayer issue is an open-and-shut case. Public school: keep your prayers between you and Jesus.

But the prayer Facebook group already has 2,600 members, and it’s growing. What’s a school district to do? It’s fun being an education administrator, isn’t it?

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Community reacts after complaint over prayer at football games [WAFF]