he is not a random school official who took people to his church, some of whom just happened to be students at the school where he worked.

Were you to tell me that one of the cafeteria workers had a van and offered a ride to anyone who wanted to go to his church, then we have a wholly different situation.

The football coach took the kids who want to play on his football team to his church. While it may have been set out as being voluntary, it is de facto involuntary. The kids have to please that coach to play on the team. Coaches have tremendous influence over the kids who play sports under their supervision.

I played football in HS. I was the only Jewish person on the team. (My sister, the other Jew in the school, didn't want to try out.) A couple of the coaches were all into the Jesus and led "voluntary" team prayers and FCA meetings and such. I knew that I could not actually walk out without creating a big to-do. And as a 16 year old kid, I didn't want to be Ghandi about it and lead some protest movement. I wanted to play football. So I had no choice.

by braveomatic on 09/09/2009 02:44:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]