Jody McLoud, principal of Roane County High School in Kingston, Tennessee, informed those attending the football game that he could not pray over the occasion.
It was the school’s tradition to begin the game with prayer and the National Anthem.
However, the Supreme Court said NOT for it would be a violation of Federal Case Law.
With that, the principal stated: “As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it “an alternate lifestyle” and if someone is offended, that’s OK.
“I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, “safe sex.” If someone is offended, that’s OK.
“I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a “viable means of birth control.” If someone is offended, no problem…
“I can designate a school day as “Earth Day,” and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess Mother Earth, and call it “ecology.”
“I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as simple minded and ignorant, and call it “enlightenment.”
“However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and to ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then federal case law is violated.
“This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except God and His Commandments.
“Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical…I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
“For this reason, I shall “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” and refrain from praying at this time.
“However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God and ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that’s not against the law-yet.”
With that, one by one, those there reached out to one another, holding hands, bowing heads and praying. There was prayer lifted from the stands. There was prayer offered from the teams. There was prayer offered at the concession stand. There was prayer offered in the Announcer’s Box!
What the principal taught those gathered that day was that freedom of religious expression is permitted in this nation by our own Constitution. Those who say otherwise are lie-manufacturers.
Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.
Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of Me before men, then I will be ashamed of you before My Father.”
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