Atheists Threaten to Sue Every School in Mississippi

As school football season begins, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has sent letters to public schools across America threatening to sue individual citizens, such as teachers, principals and school board members, of every school where anyone, including a student, takes a platform to pray at a sports event. In response, Christian citizens say they plan to ignore the atheists and publicly pray anyway.

"You can take away the microphone, but you can't take away our mouth. We still have the freedom of speech."
-- J.D Simpson, Executive Director of First Priority

For background, read Prayer in America: Hidden Faith, or Public? and also read Missouri Votes to Bring Prayer Back to School, Countering Atheists

UPDATE 10/15/13: Atheists Threaten to Sue Every School in Tennessee


-- From "Organization threatens MS schools with lawsuit over football prayers" by WDAM-TV7 (Hattiesburg, MS) 8/18/12

The Freedom from Religion Foundation has issued a warning to the Mississippi's 151 school superintendents not to allow prayer to take place over the intercom during football games or those schools will will be sued.

Pine Belt-area pastors are calling for members of their churches to organize and pray at the games.

Several school districts have announced that instead of official, school-sponsored prayer there will be a moment of silence before Friday's games. Jim Burnett, Senior Pastor at Willow Pointe Church in Oak Grove, along with several other pastors have told their congregations to recite the Lord's Prayer during that time.

Jeff Floyd, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church . . . said, "I think it is wrong for any group to come in and threaten to sue an individual when all they are doing is exercising their First Amendment Rights."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Freedom From Religion Foundation warns state's superintendents regarding pre-game prayers" by Mississippi Press Staff 8/17/12

The Mississippi House passed the Schoolchildren's Religious Liberties Act . . .

House Bill 638, which passed on a 92-25 vote, says each school district shall treat a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint in the same manner it treats their expression of a secular viewpoint.

Students must be allowed to organize prayer groups, religious clubs and other religious gatherings, and districts must adopt policies that establish limited public forums for student speakers at school events.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Freedom From Religion Foundation asks UTC to discontinue public prayer before football games" by The Associated Press 8/17/12

An atheist group has asked the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga to discontinue Christian prayers before football games.

UTC Associate Vice Chancellor Chuck Cantrell told the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the university is reviewing a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation,.

The atheist organization sent a letter dated May 15 to Chancellor Roger Brown, asking the university to halt what group Co-President Laurie Gaylor described as "unlawful university sponsorship of Christian prayer."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "UTC group calls for response to prayer letter" by Ansley Haman, Chattanooga Times Free Press 8/18/12

The Secular Student Alliance at UTC on Friday advanced the debate about public prayer on the school's campus and in Hamilton County.

The [FFRF] letter specifically mentions prayers held by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at football games beginning in 2010.

UTC Associate Vice Chancellor Chuck Cantrell confirmed Friday that university officials have not taken any additional steps after receiving the letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.