In the hyper-sensitive era of multiculturalism, the traditions and beliefs of even the smallest and most marginalized groups are sacrosanct.
Unless of course the group is Christian. Then it is time to set up barriers, put on the gloves and treat traditions and religious observances as if they are toxic waste.
This appears to be the mission of the not-for-profit Freedom From Religion Foundation, crusader against oppressive signs in schools, which recently put on its HazMat suit to rid Cameron (Mo.) High School of contamination. Cameron athletic coaches “have reportedly been holding religious chapel services for players before and after games, where coaches pray with players and read and discuss bible verses,” the group said.
USA Today reports that such behavior is banned by constitutional separation of church and state, with Cameron head coach Jeff Wallace and assistant coach David Stucky both risking legal action if they keep leading their players in prayer. The team’s tradition of postgame prayer led by coaches at the 50-yard line could be particularly bad for Wallace and Stucky.
Missouri CBS affiliate KCTV spoke to parents and multiple fans at a recent game about whether Cameron players and coaches should be penalized for pre- and postgame prayer. The answer was overwhelmingly that players should be allowed to pray, even if that flies in the face of separation of church and state.
“If it were a situation where a coach or even another student said, ‘Get over here and pray,’ and that kid didn’t want to be a part of it, I understand,” Jeff Speer, the father of two Cameron players, told KCTV, “but they all want to be a part of it.
