02/04/2005 Clergymen say it's OK to ask God to help Eagles in Super Bowl By David Burger TRIBUNE REGIONAL STAFF

Wandering the wilderness for four years longer than Moses, Eagles fans have long been searching for their Promised Land -- an NFL championship. has the Damn Yankees, but football has long had a special connection to righteousness with Hail Mary passes, Notre Dame's Jesus and the Immaculate Reception.

So this Sunday, hours before slumping Advertisement onto couches, many football fans will be on their knees asking God for victory when the Eagles play the in Super Bowl XXXIX.

But local priests, pastors, reverends and rabbis differ on whether God can be on our side. The early indications are there. Eagles credits God in quickly healing his surgically repaired ankle. But are prayers for victory in a simple game sacriligious?

"Personally, I don't know whether God is an Eagles fan or a Patriots fan," said the Very Rev. Vladimir Fetcho, pastor of Olyphant's St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. "He hasn't yet revealed his preference."

But with millions of New England Irish Catholics praying for their Goliath to win their third Super Bowl in four years, some priests think that it wouldn't be asking too much for the Eagles' chaplain to ask Him to switch sides and help this year's David.

"I don't see anything wrong with praying for a victory," said Jessup's Holy Ghost Byzantine Church's pastor, Msgr. John Sekellick, who was born in Philadelphia. "The scriptures are clear that people can send their petitions to God, large or small."

Some pastors are such big fans that religious services are being re-arranged so that religion and football can co-exist on the day when God and man are otherwise supposed to rest. Pastor Mark Schmitz of Summit Baptist Bible Church, also a Philadelphia native, has moved his congregation's service up an hour to 5 p.m., so he can be out of his garments and into his Eagles sweatshirt in time for the 6:30 kick-off. But others think that in the whole scheme of life and faith, there are clearly circumstances which warrant prayer, and supplications to St. Mark, reportedly the Patron Saint of Ball Placement and First-Down Measurements, don't.

"Humanistically, I don't think God gives a toot-toot," said Dickson City Assembly Pastor Raymond Petts. Nevertheless, Rev. Petts will be eating hot wings and pizza with his flock at a borough movie theater Sunday night, watching the game on the only screen that can handle the size of Eagles' wide receiver Freddie Mitchell's ego.

"What I would teach my congregation is that the goal of prayer is not to get what you want, when you want, how you want it," said Dickson City's St. Mary's Visitation Church Pastor Mgsr. Joseph Bambera. (He did grudgingly acknowledge that he is a Steeler fan, however.)

But knowing that many members of his congregation will need to render to Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady in the evening, Msgr. Bambera will take advantage of the day. His church will participate in a nationwide program called "SOUPer Bowl of Caring," where churchgoers can donate canned goods to be distributed to the needy.

And while Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn of Scranton's Temple Israel doesn't advocate that the members of his synagogue pray for victory, he does have a few suggestions for an appropriate entreaty to the Lord: that both sides play fairly, that there are no serious injuries, that justice is meted out, and, of course, no unnecessary roughness, he said.

After all, say most religious leaders, God's gifts to mankind include the West Coast offense and, ultimately, free will.

"God sits on the sidelines and lets them play it out," Pastor Schmitz said. "He's given them the skills, and he lets the best ones win."

Added the Very Rev. Fetcho: "You pray for things and God gives us what is necessary."

But, in the end, the prayers of one team's fans will be answered, and for the other ... they can wait until next year. If Moses can wait 40 years, some can wait one more.

©Scranton Times Tribune 2005