I grew up in Florida, south of Jacksonville. This was just normal for us. Our football team really needed those prayers too...

For someone who grew up with it, it's not weird or offensive. It's just there. But jail time? Really? Give me a break.

Yes, jail time seems excessive, how about community service as punishment. I do believe they should be punished for ignoring the requests of parents/students about prayer in school. I do not think prayer belongs in school or the workplace, if you choose to pray, that can be a solitary event. Don't force your beliefs on others, they have their own. I hate it when anyone tries to convert me to their beliefs, it is just pushy and rude!! Just MHO.

What do I think? I think I used to like this site a heck of a lot better, when Huff was writing it.

(Taking it out of my favorites.)

I will be doing the same as Soobs.
Site is just not the same

Prayers. Can't hurt. Might help.

Where did Huff go? Can't keep track of that guy, he changes blogs and addresses every 2 months.

I am not religious and Lud knows I've experienced more than my fair share of religion being crammed down my throat, but having spent most of my life in the South-Eastern USA (but having traveled extensively, so I'm not some insular hick, no) I see nothing wrong with praying around football games. It's just what they do. Like butt-pats are "done" in football. Or tiny skirts for cheerleaders. It just goes with the game.

No - they shouldn't have ignored parental/student requests to stop. That is wrong. Especially after they said they wouldn't do it anymore.

I don't appreciate the way you insert so much of your political/social/religious beliefs into your commentary. That's why I don't enjoy your articles. You show too much of yourself when you write. There's nothing wrong with putting a lot of "yourself" into a personal blog, but this isn't a "personal" blog. This is something of a community and certainly not a blog you created. I dislike coming into this blog and finding interesting cases presented and then seeing your commentary on them and feeling as if whatever I would say on the issue would get me labeled a troll. If you intend to respond back, please don't do it by email. My email is perfectly valid, but I don't check it but perhaps once a month to keep the account active.

"This brand of conspicuous Christianity has become epidemic in the country"...No, what has become epidemic here is either the increase of other religions or atheism. The God of Abraham clearly said that we are to worship him alone and to follow his other rules as well. This is non-negotiable. Simply disliking God`s laws won`t make them invalid. As a former atheist and now non-denominational Christian I can finally see things with clarity. If removing God from our daily lives is the right thing to do, if humans are so wise in their own judgments and decisions, shouldn't society be getting better instead of worse?

I guess I can see where some people would not like personal opinion in a "news-worthy" article, but the very nature of this article opens the door to opinion. This country provides for "separation of church and state" in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which also coincidentally prohibits infringing on the freedom of the press & the freedom of speech. Every American has the right to their religious belief(s) or none at all.

You people posting your distaste of this writer’s belief in this article don’t seem to see the irony of your complaint. You obviously think that these two public school employees should not be punished for their proselytizing, yet you don’t adhere to the same principle of freedom of speech when this writer simply implies his opinion. You want your cake and eat it to, as long as it adheres to the Christian agenda. The one good thing left in this country is that the law is the law, and, thankfully, it doesn’t play favorites.

Another hilarious irony of the big Christian push for “putting God back in government” is that the whole concept of separation of church and state is actually meant to protect you—the Christian! It keeps the government from being able to mandate anything regarding religion, meaning you can be Catholic or you can be Baptist or you can be Methodist or you can be non-denominational (it’s all the new rage). It also allows you to follow different doctrine—does everyone believe that women are subservient to men? What about transubstantiation? If there was no separation, the government could require you follow this doctrine—legally, by penalty of law.

Now to be entirely blunt….No, I don't think that the real problem here is the opinion of the writer bleeding into this article. The problem is the Christian dogmatists who are too close-minded to accept that some people have another belief, or none at all, which is just as valid as their own. I've lived in Alabama--the heart of the South (and Southern Baptist)--all my life, and I know how they can make you feel…scorned, chastised, disgraced.

I’m sure you are wondering why I am keeping my post “anonymous”; because, like any number of team members at Pace High School, I dare not share my non-Christian beliefs for the fear of being ostracized. As a homeschooler, I am very involved in activities and events with other homeschooling families, almost all of whom adhere wholly to the Christian belief, lifestyle and church. We most assuredly would experience the expected dogmatism--not necessarily in a public display of disgust but in hushed tones of "We don't play with those children, they're heathens”, which is something I certainly don't have a problem with. However, my children are too young to understand this kind of bigotry and would take it as some sort of personal reproach.

This is the same reason why the principal and athletic director should not be allowed to proselytize at a team event of any kind. Children that age have enough peer pressure and stress to deal with, and they shouldn’t be subjected to more pressure to fit the stereotype of “the all American sport star”…you know, “the good Christian kid” who is such a perfect role model and handsome and popular and most likely to succeed. That is forcing that poor child who was brought up Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or even atheist into an identity crisis. All religions or beliefs have just as much validity as Christianity, and as such should be respected the equally. So, unless you want to conduct a prayer in every single religion, then it’s only fair to have none at all.

All this said and I haven’t even mentioned the blatant disregard for the standing agreement they personally signed before hand. They should at least be fined. I mean they shamelessly disregarded the signed agreement…I wish I could do that with no penalty. “I just don’t feel like abiding by that car note any more. Um, I don’t think I’ll make any more payments.” Think that will work? What is the point of signing anything if it isn’t enforced and there are no repercussions for reneging on the agreement?

What do I think? A federal judge has just ruled that the men did not violate the order. Here's the link.http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=687332

So hopefully you will take back your sob story about blatant disregard for agreements.

Although I went to a more unbiased source (not a Christian-based news site) to read more about the alleged violation, court ordered decree, and ruling, I am honorable enough to admit that my assumption of their blatant disregard of the agreement was wrong.

According to a CNN article (http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/08/17/Florida.school.prayer/index.html), the agreement held that:
...Both parties approved the consent decree put in place January 9, under which district and school officials are "permanently prohibited from promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in or causing prayers during or in conjunction with school events"...

I think labeling this event that was intended as an appreciation luncheon for adults (not students) who helped with a field house project is a gray area. There was an issue of culinary students being present as they were responsible for the food/serving. However, it was not intended to be directed at students. On the other hand, it was a school-related function being held on a church property...?? How that is not an attempt to violate the court order by intentionally circumventing the literal wording, I don't know. It is all a hazy matter, and that is probably why the judge dismissed the contempt charges (BTW--the charges were for violation of the court order, not for praying).

If it weren't for the fact that this all comes on the heels of a two-year battle regarding teachers, administrators, etc., blatantly proselytizing, it probably would have never made waves. I say the school district brought this on by not keeping their employees in line to begin with. If you're open-minded enough to see both sides of the story, read this ACLU article concerning the repeated violations of the First Amendment: http://www.aclu.org/religion/schools/36568prs20080827.html

Doesn't matter if you're Christian or not, you can still show respect to others by not forcing your religious convictions upon them. If you want teachers to be allowed to pray Christian prayers in school, then non-Christian teachers should also be allowed to pray their prayers. How would you like your child to be coerced into participating in a Muslim prayer? Or chant a Hindu mantra? I’m guessing that would not go over well at all. But he point is that the government cannot show preference to one religion over the other, so if they allow one, they must allow all. There are now so many different religions that ½ the school day could quickly end up consumed with prayers…not that they don’t waste a whole lot of time in public school anyway.

Why can't everyone just pray at home before they go to school and save everyone all the headache of this constant controversy?!? Surely your prayers are good for at least 7 or 8 hours. The intolerance in this country really is sickening.