At a Naples, Florida public high school, an after-school event last week designed to "encourage students to live out their faith on their school campuses" was sponsored by the Fellowship for Christian Athletes. It was reported without concern for any religious liberty implications, but commentary today by a local rabbi – and today's must read – thoughtfully explains why we should be careful about holding such rallies for students on school grounds.
Fields of Faith was scheduled as an extracurricular activity. Nonetheless, it was coercive in a subtle way. Coercion need not be obvious or heavy-handed when it encourages an atmosphere of conformity among teenagers. I have no doubt that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the respected Protestant group that sponsored this event, does a lot of good. It enjoys considerable support. However, its program was held under the auspices of our public school system which all taxpayers support. In a free society, citizens may legitimately hold certain expectations of how the business of education is conducted.
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Experience has shown that whenever the majority exercises its power, minorities are marginalized. All of our children deserve to be comfortable in public school. It is not a favor to them; it is their right. In this country the majority rules, but the minority is protected. That’s the beauty of the American way, our Constitution and the very values we hold so dear.
