Two Christian high schools in Tampa, Florida were barred recently by the state athletic association from saying pre-game prayers at a public venue.
Cambridge Christian School faced University Christian School last Dec. 4 during the 2A State Football Championship held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
Before the game, University Christian School requested the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to recite a prayer before the game through loudspeaker but it was denied.
Cambridge Christian head Tim Euler wrote a letter to Dr. Roger Dearing, FHSAA executive director, reiterating the request to "allow two Christian schools to honour their Lord before the game and pray. I am requesting that it be allowed to occur over the loudspeaker."
However, the request was denied again.
"After consulting the Association attorney, and his review of 18 pages of case summaries, I'm afraid I may not be able to comply with your wish," Dearing said in his reply.
He said the Citrus Bowl is a "public facility, predominantly paid for with public tax dollars," which makes it "off limits" to public display of religious beliefs under federal guidelines and precedent court cases.
"Second, is the fact that in Florida Statues, the FHSAA (host and coordinator of the event) is legally a 'State Actor,' we cannot legally permit or grant permissions for such an activity," he said.
Euler said prayer is important to the school.
"We train our students that prayer is foundational to their walk with Christ. Our faith is founded in prayer," he said, according to Fox News.
Jeremy Dys, lawyer of Liberty Institute, which represents Cambridge, said the decision "is ridiculous."
"We've got two Christian schools being told they can't pray," he said.
Dys said FHSAA violated the law when it barred the schools from praying.
"We have the State trying to impose strictures upon the Church," he said. "I think we've gone a long way away from who we are as a country when the State starts telling Christian schools they can no longer pray in public."
Liberty Institute sent a letter to FHSAA on Jan. 26 demanding a written apology, saying if the association does not issue one by Feb. 26, it will file a lawsuit.
"Your actions, however, amount to unlawful viewpoint discrimination against the private religious speech of CCS," the institute told FHSAA of its decision.
"We are raising godly young men that can make a difference in the world they live in," head coach Bob Dare said. "This is why CCS is so committed to praying before every home football game."
