Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is standing up for religious freedom of student athletes against recent attacks from a woke atheist organization.
Marshall defended the right of Auburn baseball players to pray in a letter to the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which had threatened to sue Auburn University if it does not prohibit a men’s baseball chaplain from leading prayers with players or players from wearing Christian symbols or messages at practice.
The organization is asking the college to stop allowing coach led prayers on campus and to get rid of baseball uniforms that have Latin crosses on the backs and “Jesus Won” written on the front.
“We again urge Auburn University to take action to ensure that its coaching staff and sports programs cease violating students’ First Amendment rights,” the group said in a letter to the school.
Marshall said he stands with the players.
“Freedom From Religion’s latest crusade is a swing and a miss. Coaches and athletes don’t lose their religious rights just because they attend a public school,” Marshall said. “The Supreme Court has been clear that the days of censoring employees and students to remove religion from public view are over. Auburn—and all Alabama schools—should know that the Attorney General’s Office will stand with them in protecting the religious liberties of their employees and students. Do not surrender.”
The Attorney General requested that the Freedom From Religion Foundation withdraw its letter.
“Alabama is committed to preserving the liberties of all its citizens. Because of its fidelity to the Constitution, the State will not let ‘concerns about phantom constitutional violations justify actual violations of an individual’s First Amendment rights.’ For you to say that members of the baseball team should ‘pray privately … on their own time’ is offensive. For the government to say so would be both unconstitutional and un-American.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
