The Asbury Park Press reports:
On Friday, schools Superintendent Jo Ann Magistro, reacting to complaints from a teacher, several students and their parents, told Borden he could no longer continue the practice. Hours later, Borden stepped down. His resignation divided the school community, causing students to point fingers of blame at one another, and put a spotlight on school officials as camera crews from every major television network visited the campus yesterday.
Magistro would not divulge the names of the individuals who brought Borden’s pregame prayer sessions to her attention. She did, however, express concern for students who are being fingered, perhaps wrongly, as those who flagged Borden.
“My concern is also about the students who have come forward and expressed to their parents an uncomfortableness or questioned their teacher or their parents about what is constitutionally correct and so forth,” she said. “What about their principles? I respect Coach Borden and his principles, but the kids who came forward are not being treated with the same respect. They have principles also and they have feelings, but instead they are being taunted now.”
No one is saying that students can’t pray; all that the school is saying is that it is illegal for the coach to put his stamp of approval on any prayers by initiating or participating with them. If students want to have prayers on their own, that’s fine. If not, that’s also fine — the school, through the office of coach, isn’t permitted to take a position on the matter.
It was awfully petulant and immature of Marcus Borden to quit rather than continue to coach within the boundaries of the law. What is it about his coaching style that he can’t do it without leading his team in prayers? He can’t be a very good coach if prayers are so critical to the process for him.
In another report, other coaches express surprise at the fact that it’s against the law for them to lead their teams in prayers:
“If that’s the law of the land, then I’ve been doing the wrong things for 48 years at Brick and 10 years before that,” said Warren Wolf, who has been the head coach at Brick Township High School for 48 years. “If somebody’s complaining that there’s a prayer before the game that no one gets hurt, and that’s wrong, then I think that the law is crazy.” [...] “We say the “Our Father,’ which is pretty much a universal prayer,” said Freehold Township football coach Dom Lepore. “We just pray for kids to be injury-free on both teams and for strength and courage. We don’t make it mandatory. I would continue to do it, because that’s what I believe in. We’ve never had any complaints.”
In the context of such comments, we should keep in mind what Superintendant Magistro said: coaches who lead their teams in prayers are not respecting the principles and beliefs all of their players. They are placing their own beliefs (and presumably the beliefs of a majority of players) ahead of the beliefs of the minority. This isn’t for the sake of athleticism, performance, or simply winning; instead, it’s for the sake of personal religious practice.
A coach isn’t a good coach, mentor, leader, or teacher when they disrespect the beliefs of players like this. This includes Marcus Borden, Warren Wolf, Dom Lepore, and all the other coaches who insist on bringing their religion into the locker rooms.
Quick Poll: Should coaches at public schools lead their teams in prayers?
- No, it's wrong for a state employee to favor any religion or religious practice
- Yes, if they want - it's their right and/or it's good for the team
- I don't know
- I don't care
Read More:
What part of “Congress shall enact no law” or “nor prevent the free exercise thereof” do you or the courts NOT understand?
You seem to be under the misapprehension that these restrictions on government power do not apply when it comes to state officials acting on behalf of the state.
“We say the ‘Our Father,’ which is pretty much a universal prayer,” said Freehold Township football coach Dom Lepore.
Well, universal to everyone except Unitarians, Ba’hai, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, pagans, wiccans, and oh yes, atheists. Then again, they probably don’t even play football, so they’re just out and out Satanspawn evil.
I’m not sure which is worse: the outright malevolence of the churches militant or the seemingly-benign ignorance of their moderate majorities.
Good riddance, coach. Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out, since it appears that that is the part of your anatomy you think with.
The kids who complained are being taunted now because the point of religion is social control, and because the immorality and evil of religion is manifested in the behaviour of the religious.
In comment (1), Karen must be asking her question of this coach (“What part of “Congress shall enact no law” or “nor prevent the free exercise thereof” do you or the courts NOT understand?”), since he is the one prevented the free exercise of the beliefs of some of the children he coaches; and since it is Christians like this coach who impose their religion upon others.
Forced prayers are idolatry.
Why am I not surprised Karen is not back to explain and defend that absurd, backward comment she made?
It is entirely the right way to think, but she has the wrong people not being able to be free in regard to their religion, or lack thereof.
Why is it so hard for every one to understand that in this country the theist, deists, atheists and agnostics all stand equal.
I watch pro sports all the time and see groups of players and coaches, ON THEIR OWN, huddled in groups, on their knees, holding hands and praying. What is so hard, or wrong with that?
The coach needs to understand, whether he agrees or not, he is an agent for the State and must stay neutral.
This is simple. It’s not an intrusion on anyone. It is fair for everyone, no more, no less.
Hopefully Karen can come back and try to understand, or at least engage in some dialog instead of making an absurd comment and then running away.
“We say the “Our Father,’ which is pretty much a universal prayer,” said Freehold Township football coach Dom Lepore.
This is the crux of the matter! Xians will NEVER understand that there are many people in their midst who do not wish to pray AT ALL! Generic “god” should be acceptable to everyone, NOT!
Mr. Borden stood firm in his faith by resigning. There was nothing “immature” about it. He would rather give up his job than compromise his faith. For every “right” groups like the ACLU bring suit for one or two individuals, they remove the rights of millions of others. If you choose not to pray, don’t pray but don’t take away my right to. I choose not to smoke but have no say about others who do it around me. I propose that if everyone is so intent on “seperation of church and state” that ALL government offices and schools should not be closed on Good Friday and Christmas which are CLEARLY Christian holidays. I’m all for a couple less government holidays.. I’d hate to think that we’re FORCING all those government and school employees to take a holiday that they don’t believe in.
His faith required him to break the law?
It’s mature to avoid having to follow the law?
So, following the law by not abusing one’s position of power would “compromise” his “faith”?
Feel free to support this claim, if you can.
No one has taken away your right to pray.
FYI, public employees and officers of the state don’t have a “right” to use their positions to promote their personal religious beliefs, practices, rituals, etc.
Actually, you do.
I’d go along with that.
It is a mistake to discuss the free exercise clause of the first amendment at all in this case. That’s the christians’ losing argument. This case is about the establishment clause. Public schools may not promote religion, and asking children to pray, or subtly creating “in” groups and “out” groups based on religion, is promoting religion. The coach, of course, is free to teach at a parochial school. Individual students may pray 24/7 without anyone’s knowledge, because making noise is not a necessary component of prayer. They may pray loudly in a group at the coach’s house 2 hours prior to the game. At NFL games, players can do whatever they are permitted to do by their coaches because the NFL is not funded by my tax dollars.
http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/
There is an Australian playing in the American major League football. Interviewed back here in Oz he was asked about the prayer huddle of his team mates and how did he fit in. “Oh I just let them get on with it whilst I stand to one side, it doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t seem to bother them that I’m, not a believer. They know I’m Australian”
Yeah being Australian beats any other religion, even if I am a born again convert, better than my former nationality.
In my experience I have found that the followers of fundamentalist religious tend to take the extreme view that they either get to do what they please in the name of their “faith” or if they are confronted and forced to follow the law of the land (The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, various federal, state and local laws) they scream and whine about being discriminated against for their “beliefs.”
The thought of having to compromise and play by the same rules as everyone else doesn’t occur to them as they truly believe they have “special rights” that grant them supernatural privileges to do as they please. The coaches mentioned in the original article are oblivious to the harm they cause because they live in a world where their beliefs are privileged and anyone in the minority who speaks up gets ignored, ridiculed or attacked.
This kind of ignorance has to be confronted and the parties educated about the law. If they continue to insist that their belief system grants them special rights, then they must suffer the consequences that anyone who breaks the law does and lose their jobs.
Imagine if an Atheist Coach led his/her team in a pre-game meditation on why their is no god or gods and that anyone who believed in the supernatural would be shunned. The unholy hell that would be raised by the parents who were believers would be heard for miles. They would be justified in saying it was inappropriate for the coach to push his dogmatic beliefs on the impressionable youth. What is good for the goose is good for the gander but they will never see it that way as they are used to being in positions of power and privilege.
Fundamentalists and atheists have a common factor.
We both think we are right. Thereafter we diverge dramatically. Fundamentalists not only abrogate to themselves righteous privileges whilst wishing to deny access to them to others. they actively proselytise their beliefs trying to convert everybody to their way of thinking.
Atheist on the other hand whilst, rightly in my opinion, honestly believe they have the correct
opinion do not try to convert. We do not hand out tracts, to gain followers. Our endeavours are purely to gain a respect for our position and not to suffer prejudices and disadvantages just for not conforming.
Even vilification laws are aimed only at preventing
criticism of religions never to protect us.
I would like separation of synagogue and state. We send billions of dollars to Israel every year.
Your team, is your brothers. You put everything aside in football religion and all, its about the sport. If you dont like that then get off the turff. To play football you make sacrifices for your brothers, its how it is