Written by Don Byrd
In Florida’s Pasco County, the battle over prayer at high school football games has been heating up, after House Speaker WIll Weatherford weighed in, arguing that coaches should be able to lead their team in prayer. An editorial in today’s Tampa Bay Times takes him to task and reminds readers what is at stake.
Weatherford complained a ban on prayer led by coaches violates their rights and is “un-American.” He is off base on both counts, and he should be more concerned about the rights of all Floridians, the nation’s embrace of diversity and respect for those with different views. That includes high school football players who do not share the religious beliefs of their coaches or the House speaker and who should not feel coerced to join in prayer.
Allowing coaches to lead prayer with their teams is no boost to religion. Religious freedom is protected in public schools by respecting the religious viewpoints of all students, not by forcing them to choose between their teammates and their conscience. The Times has this right.
