OSG High: Texas Cheerleaders Can Quote Scripture On Pre-Game Banners

((HT: KFDM-TV Beaumont))

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has been on the warpath in the last year trying to keep religious influence from high school football games and their associated activities- pre-game, post-game, practice... all over...

The HQ knows of two instances, one it reported on, involving coaches who prayed with their teams on school grounds- much to the dismay and anger of the local townsfolk. Look up the cases the FFRF had against Ridgeland High School (GA) and Haralson County High School (GA) for your backgrounder.

Now, over the last eight months or so the FFRF has been telling cheerleaders at Kountze High School in southeast Texas that they needed to stop. But Texas State District Judge Steve Thomas determined the cheerleaders' banners are constitutionally permissible. In a copy of the ruling obtained by Beaumont station KFDM, Thomas determined that no law "prohibits cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events."

Judge Thomas may need, and will probably need, to be reminded of the whole separation of church and state thing...

Here's the original victory in court...


The FFRF said the messages violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which bars the government from establishing or endorsing a religion.

So much for that... the case was set to go to trial in late June, but the judge's summary judgment puts an end to the proceedings (until the FFRF or someone like them appeals to a higher court)

OSG High: Georgia County Pulls Pre-Game Prayer

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

Last year, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent the Haralson County (GA) School Board a letter letting them know that their pregame prayer before football games is unconstitutional. Haralson County is 90 minutes outside Atlanta and borders Alabama.

The school board has now pulled the prayer from their home games...

People are really bent out of shape about it, and the HQ would like to know where the FFRF's crusade will stop... NASCAR...???

Marc Teichner has the rundown from Tallapoosa
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Here's Superintendent Stanton's statement in full:

“The Haralson County School System strives to provide the best learning environment possible for all of our students. We have recently been faced with the threat of legal action regarding prayer from the public address system before home football games. Personally, it saddens me since my faith is a very important part of my life.

“However, from a professional standpoint and as the superintendent of the Haralson County Schools, I have a responsibility to protect the school system from litigation. This is very difficult for our board members, employees and for me, but until the laws are changed, we will abide by the guidelines set forth by the Constitution of the United States.”

It's okay for students to lead a prayer, it just can't be a pastor. The churches are planning to consult the Liberty Council to determine a plan of action...

If a legal one can be pursued...

OSG High: FB Coach Comes Under Fire For Prayer

((HT: WDEF-TV Chattanooga))

It's commonplace as a lot of other things one associates with football in the south- sports in the south, really...

There's a fair amount of prayer and thanksgiving and making a point to whatever your God may believe in your future...

Unless, of course, you're a member of something called the FFRF- the Freedom From Religion Foundation- a Wisconsin-based think tank that believes that all that could be holy during high school football games is a violation of the separation of church and state...

Ridgeland (GA) High School coach Mark Mariakis is now catching it from the FFRF for taking his seemingly multi-denominational tour of support to different churches and having his players pray at games.

Here's the rundown on that idea...


Really...???
Yep, really...

Apparently, the FFRF believes in wasting everyone's time and have never attended any kind of event in the south at all...

Ever...