High School Football coaches leading prayers (Penn: private school, college, law)

[Burghophilia]

Certainly a tendentious national issue, but looking for some local color -- did you play football locally in Western Pennsylvania -- was there any "prayer" elements to your pre- or post-game preparations? I certainly recall, circa 1989/1990 that we would gather before running out to field for games and say the "Our Father," although we were mostly d-a-g-o Catholics, and I'm pretty sure it was team captain led, not coach led. That said, I could certainly see, for example, some Protestant groups/players, not being keen on, for example, a Catholic coach leading a prayer, and incorporating some references to Catholics beloved saints, as (I have heard directly) that some protestants view this as a form of blasphemy.

Thoughts?

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

not sports related but i learned the lord's prayer from my homeroom taecher at shady side academy junior school way back in the day

recited it every morning

[h_curtis]

Wonder if they’d be ok with prayers to Satan?

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by Burghophilia

Certainly a tendentious national issue, but looking for some local color -- did you play football locally in Western Pennsylvania -- was there any "prayer" elements to your pre- or post-game preparations? I certainly recall, circa 1989/1990 that we would gather before running out to field for games and say the "Our Father," although we were mostly d-a-g-o Catholics, and I'm pretty sure it was team captain led, not coach led. That said, I could certainly see, for example, some Protestant groups/players, not being keen on, for example, a Catholic coach leading a prayer, and incorporating some references to Catholics beloved saints, as (I have heard directly) that some protestants view this as a form of blasphemy.

Thoughts?

yes.


no.


and the existence of such today, or absence does not 'trigger' me in any way. mebbe Im the problem?

[Burghophilia]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

not sports related but i learned the lord's prayer from my homeroom taecher at shady side academy junior school way back in the day

recited it every morning

Private school, too, though.

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Wonder if they’d be ok with prayers to Satan?

people pray to the ravens?


nevermore!

[Tony_Soprano]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

not sports related but i learned the lord's prayer from my homeroom taecher at shady side academy junior school way back in the day

recited it every morning

Do kids in school still recite the Pledge of Allegiance? That's a sincere question and I'd have to guess that the answer is no but I'm sure there are exceptions.

There is no such thing as separation of church of state. Part of the The First Amendment is this:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

The last part of that - in bold - always gets overlooked or more accurately, ignored. Free exercise is exactly what was done by the coach who is in the news cycle.

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

Originally Posted by Burghophilia

Private school, too, though.

private school with many jewish students - seems odd in retrospect

[Burghophilia]

Originally Posted by Tony_Soprano

Do kids in school still recite the Pledge of Allegiance? That's a sincere question and I'd have to guess that the answer is no but I'm sure there are exceptions.

There is no such thing as separation of church of state. Part of the The First Amendment is this:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

The last part of that - in bold - always gets overlooked or more accurately, ignored. Free exercise is exactly what was done by the coach who is in the news cycle.

What I would like to see is a local high school football coach attest to the fact that, while he is a devout Christian, and while he acknowledges the "right" found by the Supreme Court, he expressly chooses to reject this right as not keeping with his understanding of Christian humbleness, and not really keeping with American traditions and further as likely to erode protections for freedom of worship over time.

[Burghophilia]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

private school with many jewish students - seems odd in retrospect

My third year at college, I had a roommate from Shadyside Academy. Figured that for the son of a yinzer steelworker, state school isn't that bad, but not so for a Shadyside graduate with wealthy doctor for a dad. That said, he was a cool dude, very smart, good taste in music -- but his mom pissed me off, and I ended up narc'ing on him to her (which kinda ended our friendship).