Atheist Group Tries to Stop Prayers at High School Football Games

A national atheist organization has accused an Alabama school district of allowing prayers that invoke the name of Jesus during high school football games, Fox News reports. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, on behalf of the complaints of a single resident, said the Lauderdale County school district was violating the First Amendment by allowing student-led prayers -- prayers for the players, coaches, referees and fans -- before football games at Brooks High School. "It is not the job of the public school system to endorse religion," the complainant wrote in an email to the newspaper. School superintendent Bill Valentine said that to his knowledge, no one else had ever complained about the prayers. The school hasn't made any decisions for this weekend's game, but Valentine said he had received many calls in support of keeping the prayers. Local pastor David McKelvey called the complaint "unfortunate" but not surprising: "Christianity is under attack," he said.