Prayer Complaints Bring Ruling on Nebraska School Athletics
by Jim Brown
April 27, 2004
(AgapePress) - Events sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) should not begin with prayer -- even if they take place at private Christian schools. That's what the Association is telling Nebraska schools.NSAA executive director Jim Tenopir says he received complaints about prayers that were read over public address systems before a football playoff game and a basketball game. He says if a public prayer takes place at a state-sponsored event, the offending school could lose its host privileges.
But officials at some Lutheran and Catholic schools across Nebraska say they will not comply with the ban on prayers before activities. Paul Leckband is principal of Lutheran High Northeast in Norfolk.
"It's a disturbing decision and one that I think is an infringement upon the rights of religious schools to their religious expression," Leckband says.
The principal says the order will not stop his school from praying at the beginning of regular season competitions. As for post-season events, he says, that remains to be seen.
"Prayer is a very, very important part of who we are and whose we are," he says, "and for the state activities association to tell us we cannot have prayer -- even if it is a sub-district or a district event -- that's pretty disturbing to me. We're going to have to consider our options very carefully."
Leckband says it is unfortunate that some groups do not realize the First Amendment ensure freedom of religion -- not freedom from religion.
Lutheran High School in Lincoln would not comment on the prayer ban.
