Thursday, August 23, 2012

Atheist Group Targets a Football Coach in Georgia; Says Mark Mariakis OK'd Church Meals for Players

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) -- an atheist activist group based in Madison, Wisconsin -- is taking a football coach to task, claiming he violated the First Amendment by allowing local churches to prepare meals for team members, the Blaze website reports today (August 23, 2012).

The organization sent a letter to Walker County Schools in LaFayette, Georgia, demanding that officials immediately investigate Mark Mariakis, the Ridgeland High School coach.

While the atheists want an examination into alleged pre-game foods that churches purportedly prepared for the players, the FFRF also addressed claims that Coach Mariakis prayed with the football players, used Bible verses in motivational speeches and on team shirts, and took part in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a faith-based organization.

"Taking public school football teams to church, even for a meal, is unconstitutional," FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel wrote in a letter to the district. He added, "This program is an egregious violation of the Establishment Clause and must cease immediately."


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