Religious Liberty – Page 71

Referee Flags Player for Endzone Slide and Prayer

Sep 30, 2014JerryReligious FreedomReligious Freedom, Religious Liberty

The NFL has been in the limelight a good bit lately for its poor handling of domestic violence. The organization seems to be struggling in another area as well, however: Religious liberty.

Last night Kansas Chiefs free safety Husain Abdullah scored a touchdown against the New England Patriots. When he reached the endzone Abdullah slid on his knees and prayed. As a result, the referees threw a yellow flag, and the Chiefs were penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Kansas City Star describes Abdullah as a devout Muslim who promised himself if he ever scored a touchdown he would bow in prayer.

The NFL does have a rule which states, “players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground.” However, the NFL typically makes exceptions for prayer–which is why players like Tim Tebow and others were able to drop to the ground and thank God in the endzone.

Some are alleging the penalty was a result of Abdullah’s slide on the ground–not the prayer. It seems difficult to distinguish the two, however.

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Satanists, Atheists Passing Out Material in Fla. Public Schools

Sep 23, 2014JerryCurrent EventsCurrent Events, FFRF, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Satanists

The Satanic Temple and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have each announced plans to pass out their “literature” in public schools in Florida.

The New York-based Satanic Temple will distribute “pamphlets related to the [Satanic] Temple’s tenets, philosophy and practice of Satanism, as well as information about the legal right to practice Satanism in school.”

While the Satanic Temple says it has consulted with the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, FFRF has released a statement putting daylight between itself and the Satanic Temple, saying,

“FFRF does not believe that satanists or Christians or even atheists should be distributing literature to public school students…FFRF does not endorse the New York based Satanic Temple’s literature any more than we would endorse the bible or think it should be given to students. However, Orange County Public Schools cannot legally prevent the temple from distributing its literature.”

So here is a question: If the Freedom From Religion Foundation does not believe “even atheists” should be distributing material to public school students, why are they handing out anti-Christian literature in Florida schools? (more…)

ASU Football Team 1-0 on Religious Liberty

Sep 18, 2014JerryReligious FreedomReligious Freedom, Religious Liberty

We have been following the story out of Jonesboro surrounding ASU’s decision to ban its football players from wearing crosses memorializing two students who died in the past year.

University officials told the football players they had to remove the cross-shaped decals bearing the initial of the two students from the backs of the players’ football helmets. One player, however, contacted attorneys at Liberty Institute who sent a letter to the school explaining the rights of the students.

ASU has since released a statement about the controversy, and while the university seems to be standing by its initial actions, it has agreed that the players may place NCAA-compliant decals on their uniforms memorializing their teammates.

In other words, the crosses can come back.

Attorney Hiram Sasser who represented the unnamed ASU football player released a statement, saying,

“The University officials and the Arkansas Attorney General did the right thing restoring the religious liberty and free speech rights of the players to have the original cross sticker design if they so choose and we commend them for doing so.”

When it comes to First Amendment freedoms, the ASU Red Wolves are undefeated this season.