CV NEWS FEED // An anti-religion organization is calling for an Alabama public high school to remove all references to Christianity from its football program.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a news release and sent a letter of complaint to Oak Grove High School in mid-March, insisting that the Jefferson County School District end all “religious coercion” in the football program. The examples of “religious coercion” cited include the team’s motto, “God, Team, Me,” which is displayed in the team’s locker room and on the official team shirts, as well as the team’s 2023 playoff hoodies, which included a Bible verse, Proverbs 27:17.
The Foundation’s release complained that Coach Chris Musso has used his membership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to “infuse” the school’s football program with religion and promote his personal religious beliefs to players.
“FFRF is urging the coach to immediately stop engaging in religious activity or otherwise promoting his personal religious beliefs in his role as a football coach, and for the district to remove the godly motto and make certain that official district apparel no longer includes religious messages or bible verses,” the news release stated.
According to the Foundation, the district “displays clear favoritism” for religion and Christianity by allowing the coach to “promote his personal religious beliefs and display religious messages on school property.”
According to the news outlet AL, Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin Jr. said that the school board is reviewing the letter.
“However, the Jefferson County Board of Education is on record as fully supporting the right of its students and all members of the education community to pray and engage in voluntary religious expression in school settings,” he said, according to AL.
CatholicVote reported in February that FFRF took credit for the removal of a Bible verse from the side of a dugout in Mobile Country, Alabama.
