Friday, September 15, 2000
Radio airs game prayers
The Associated Press
GREENUP, Ky. — Some high-school football faithful have found another way to worship since the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed prayers before games.
Some local radio stations carrying the games have begun broadcasting recorded prayers before kickoff.
Radio station WLGC in Greenup, which airs the Greenup High School football games, did so before the Raceland game. And station manager Rob Sheibley said it will do so again today.
“We didn't see any reason not to do it. It's a traditional thing and something that we think is important to people in the area,” Mr. Sheibley said.
The Supreme Court ruled June 19 that public school districts cannot let students lead stadium crowds in prayer before high-school football games. The high court ruled in a Texas case that prayer delivered over a public address system violates the constitutionally required separation of government and religion.
Since then some schools have grumbled that the ruling has ended a tradition.
“Some of what these people here see as one of their rights is being taken away,” Mr. Sheibley said.
Jeff Vessels, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said broadcasting prayer on the radio doesn't violate the Supreme Court decision.
But if a school requests that a radio station broadcast the prayer, then it would cross the line, he said.
“The real issue here hinges on whether or not the government has any involvement in the religious activity,” Mr. Vessels said.
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