Prayer at a Tennessee Football Game
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal Jody McLoud, on September 1, 2000. I thought it was worth sharing with the world, and hope you will forward it to all your friends. It clearly shows just how far this country has gone in the wrong direction!
   A Principal’s Football Game PA Announcement By Charlie Courtois Forsyth, GA – Freedom of Religion & the loss of other freedoms Are Christian Lay People called to speak up for our Constitution, for our country and for our way of life as it founded in 1776? This is not a political statement. This not a political movement. This is not a political question. This is a call for faithful Christians to awaken. Fear to speak out about our loss of freedom of religion and other freedoms is happening all over our country, not just in this particular school, but in every institution of our society.
The Declaration of Independence reminds us: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The words that I read in the following email this morning are what is happening to our freedoms now. If we want to live in the US and enjoy the freedoms we are used to enjoying, as set forth by our Constitution, then we lay Christians better begin to join together and do something to protect the Constitution we founded the United States under. My friend wrote me, “I find it interesting that a high school principal can see the problem, but our society cannot. If I offend anyone by this, I really don’t apologize!”
Tennessee Football!
“It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.” Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it “an alternate life style,” 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 depicts 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.”
They prayed in the stands.. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer’s Box! The only place they didn’t pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America— the Seat of “Justice” in the “one nation, under GOD.” Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that His remnant remains! Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of Me before men, then I will be ashamed of you before my Father…” In 1995, about 10 years before he died, Pope John Paul II, wrote an encyclical letter on abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty in today’s world. It was entitled The Gospel of Life {Evangelium Vitae}. The Gospel of Life grappled with what the Pope called the dramatic struggle now taking place at the close of the twentieth century between the “culture of life” and the “culture of death.” The values of Christianity, the Pope argues, are unalterably opposed to the modern secular culture of choice. Rooting his many arguments in the original precepts of the Gospel, Pope John Paul, urges us to honor the sacred value and the inviolability of human life, and refuse forms of permissiveness that trample human rights, and which if left unopposed, would destroy values that are fundamental not only for the lives of individuals and families, but for the society itself. This high school principal in Tennessee made a simple plea to the football fans that day to do what was on their hearts, many of them did it. We as Christian Lay People need to come together and support our pastors, bishops, and church leadership to let them know that the faithful of the church are ready to defend our Constitution, our freedoms and the sanctity of life, just as Pope Paul II wrote about in 1995 and spoke about at Saint Peter’s in Rome, the seventeenth year of his pontificate. JESUS said, “If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER!“ |
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 
Excellent post. I’m glad you sent it out. I think the time for dying for our faith is not far from now, perhaps 4-10 years. May we all stand for righteousness and be ready regardless of the consequences. In smaller ways we have been getting persecuted in our country for years. I love to see those who stand – regardless.
Iam deeply sorry for whats happenning but if you would like to know what basically happened to me it will shock you. Dear saints iam not even a Us citizen here natural but in my spirit iam, christians betrayed christian like me & allow this kind od persecutions for the love of God uses me like judas did to the lord then fired me on accusations religion discriminations, complaints made by a sister who constantly asked for prayers support was a trouble got a transfer from where we worked, then back fired on the company, revenge in her throw accusations on two men sexual harrasment,i was the supervisor, I denied her accusations, then she sold me for not standing for her, basically i her lead @ work who she struggled to follow rules,both side companies Ups(security)& the contracted property parker &lee/ cushamanwakesfileds. didnot not really do anythings with her behaviour, then she told ups which is our company that hired to work there @ parker L&C wakesfield, that the pictures of our flag posters one nation under God we trust others faces of christians pioneers, jeresalems, bothered her its not professional like I was not praying for the tenants to have God blessings in there business. But sold Jesus for her personal glory i didnot get trouble with the poperty management , but our company ups who 7years ago when i applied there was a bible in that room, it was open in the book of jashua highlighted with marker chapter1:1-8+
Now the day i was called in the office twisted this case upside down they god idols on there office funitures gods of the world & a frame pictures of newpapers covering an article sHow the company did receive 7 give APPRECIATION AWAD OF PEACE MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE HALLOWEEN PARTY 2009 OR 2008.nOW THATS IS NOT AN OFEENCE OR DISCRIMINATIONS HOWEVER I DID ASKED MY COMPANY PERMISSION IF THEY ARE OK FOR WHAT I HAD ON THE WALL THEY ERE OK WITHIT, ON BOTH PARTS.HOWEVER WHEN REMINDED THEM, THE REPONDER HR, MICHELLE PONCHE SAID I RECALL THAT REMEBER HOWEVER WHEN I LOOKED BACK ON OUR COMPANY POLICY ITS A VIOLATIONS SO I VIOLATED, AAAAHAHAHHH PRAISE THE LORD.NOW THEY COUNTIN G AN ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF PUTTING A NOTE AFFIRMATIONS ON CAR THAT THE HOLYSPIRIT LED ME VERY SIMPLE GOD”S MESSAGE.WHICH I USUALLY GIVE CITATIONS, OR NOTES WARNING. IN EXCHANGE OF LOVE i GOT HATES.
Sorry Shaiyen for all the hassle at work; but I think you are in good company. Just like our Lord said, or rather warned us that “Those who would follow after Him and seek to live as He lived, will suffer persecution, just as He did.
Part of life is learning to exercise both wisdom and discernment, especially in work related situations; but also at church and in your personal life.
As the Bible says there are wheat and tares, sheep and goats, and that is even true in the church; and not everyone who says they are Christian are; but you can tell them by their fruit.
That’s true in politics, in business, and also in personal relationships.
I should know because I’ve been on the receiving end of such treatment myself, where I have trusted people and was taken advantage of.
The main thing is we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully gain enough wisdom that we not repeat them in the future; and most importantly, we must forgive and let go, and keep our focus on Jesus!
I will be praying for you my brother.
Being allowed to pray at school should be a fundamental right. If those who oppose it don’t wish to participate then that is also their right. The first amendment guarantees everyone the right to free speech. According to the beginning of the 1st amendment wording it states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…”
I loved this. It would be wonderful if everyone would do the same, stand up and speak up for what is right and especially when it comes to our Creator, our Lord and our God.
Government certainly does not have the right to corrupt the morals of our youth by teaching children to pray to a so called God. The people who support this government lead prayer are predominantly poorly educated people who don’t even have enough sense to understand that man was not created by God but that man has instead descended from Monkey Like ancestors.
So let me get this straight…..The first session of Congress was opened with a prayer to God….then the appointment of a Chaplain….(both of which are still honored to this day)… the first bill in Congress was to produce 20,000 Bibles….the primary book in public schools was the Bible until the 1900’s….
You state that you descend from Monkey Like ancestors, makes sense to me, but I like you was wonderfully created by the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and the Founding Fathers seem to agree in that they declared…..”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, (note the word created) that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”…..you can freely pursue/claim to be from monkeys…
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…”
BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE….WE DRINK FROM THE LIVING WATER AND WE WILL SERVE THE LIVING LORD! JESUS CHRIST….WHY NOT JOIN US!
By the way, for the record, I am a US MARINE VET WITH A MASTERS DEGREE….