Gridiron prayer sparks debate over team chaplains at public universities – By Pamela Mason (UPI) / Feb 16 2021
Feb. 16 (UPI) — A debate over whether public schools and universities should have chaplains for sports teams has been revived at Boise State University.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation complained to Boise State that having a chaplain who travels with the football team and leads prayer on the playing field is a violation of the constitutional principle of separation between church and state.
The university responded by using private donations to cover the cost of transporting pastor Mark Thornton to and from games. But the FFRF says the university should abolish the team chaplaincy and educate its athletic staff on “appropriate constitutional boundaries.”
“Public school athletic teams cannot appoint or employ a chaplain, seek out a spiritual leader for the team, or agree to have a volunteer team chaplain because public schools may not advance or promote religion,” FFRF said its complaint to Boise State.
