If you google the original article, all of the parents were asked by the coach and gave permission, except one student. Some of the parents attended the service, too. The one student's mother is the only one mad about this. I think it was ok for all of the students whose parents gave verbal permission. I don't think he should have taken the one student that didn't have permission.
I belong to a evangelical church, and I wouldn't want my kids' coach taking him, even to our own church, without my permission.
I honestly don't know why that important fact was left out of this discussion. It seems that is what most people object to.

If you google the original article, it states that except for one student, all of the parents gave verbal permission. Some of the parents attended the service. The mother of the one student who wasn't contacted is the only parent objecting. I think it was ok for the coach to take all of the kids who had permission. He shouldn't have allowed the one w/o permission to go. I belong to an evangelical church and I wouldn't want my kid's coach to take him, even to out own church w/o my permission. Even if you totally ignore the religious aspect of the case, if there had been an accident, the parents would have to be found and notified, b/c medical attn has to be approved in person or writing. A permission slip would have been wise.