FFRF Objects to University Football Team Chaplaincies Final Call for FFRF Convention

FFRF Objects to University Football Team Chaplaincies Final Call for FFRF Convention

Vol. 33 No. 8 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. October 2016 FFRF objects to university football team chaplaincies By PJ Slinger The Freedom From Religion Foundation is re- newing its objection to several public university foot- ball chaplaincies. FFRF initially contacted the schools in August of last year to complain about their respective chaplain- cy programs as part of a broad national report titled “Pray to Play.” This August, FFRF contacted five major universi- ties still not in compliance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Those schools are Georgia Tech, the University of Wisconsin, Virginia Pretty as a picture Tech, the University of Missouri and the University This new rendering of the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s office building in downtown Madison, of South Carolina. FFRF plans to contact more non- Wis., is by artist Kathleen Parr McKenna, who had created a painting of FFRF’s original building many compliant universities throughout the fall. years ago. A renovation and five-story addition was completed last year — thanks to many generous Most of the schools involved try to get around the FFRF members. unconstitutionality argument by claiming that any religious services or activities are purely voluntary. But the idea that such religious activities are truly op- tional is questionable, at best. Final call for FFRF convention FFRF’s “Pray to Play” report concluded that “ath- letes do not view coaches’ suggestions as optional.” We’re just days away from the 2016 FFRF annual personal battles or fighting state/church separation. Moreover, “coaches add to this pressure by sending national convention in Pittsburgh the weekend of You’ll learn a lot and be entertained. What more can chaplains to talk with players going through difficult Oct. 7-9! you ask for? times, instead of allowing players to seek out their If you haven’t registered already, you may still sign Because of the popularity of this year’s convention own religious or professional counseling.” up at the door, although you cannot order meals. (and the fact that’s there’s a Steelers game in town “Courts have summarily rejected arguments that Join us for a weekend of great speakers, food, mu- that Sunday), hotel rooms at the Wyndham Grand voluntariness excuses a constitutional violation,” sic and more! FFRF has pulled together an excep- Downtown, site of the convention, are now sold out FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie tional lineup of speakers, including Daniel Dennett, for that weekend. To find a place to stay nearby, go to Gaylor wrote in a letter to Georgia Tech President Lawrence Krauss, Susan Jacoby and Jerry Coyne. hotels.com or your favorite online booking site. G.P. Peterson. Many of the other speakers have intriguing, interest- We hope to see you in Pittsburgh! For more infor- See Universities on page 2 ing and/or heartbreaking stories to tell about their mation, go to ffrf.org/outreach/convention. Inside This Issue Nonbelief Relief aids threatened atheist The problem Bangladeshi writer finds asylum in Canada of voting in By PJ Slinger on Saturday, Oct. 8. churches On May 12, 2015, Abir’s book edi- page 3 tor and friend, Ananta Bijoy Das, had stepped out of his home for the daily R aihan Abir lived in a constant commute to his job when men wearing state of fear that he would be killed. masks and carrying machetes chased And for good reason. Which was for him and killed him. Is diversity bad reasons. “When he was killed, I said there is making U.S. Abir is co-author of Philosophy of Dis- no way I’m not next,” Abir told the To- less religious? belief, a book promoting atheism that ronto Globe and Mail. “They will target page 6 became a bestseller in Bangladesh me, of course.” in 2011. He is now the latest Bangla- Three people involved in the pub- deshi nonbeliever aided by Nonbelief lishing of the book have been brutally Relief, which serves as the charitable murdered. Three others have been se- arm of the Freedom From Religion Photo by Samiul Alam Anik riously injured, as religious extremists College Essay Foundation. Raihan Abir holds his baby Sophia in Bangladesh target atheist and sec- Contest Abir’s co-author, Avijit Roy, was after escaping from Bangladesh. ular writers. Since 2013, religious ex- winners hacked to death in February 2015 on a tremists have killed more than 50 blog- page 12 street in Dhaka by religious extremists. United Nations, calling on the Bangla- gers, secularists and LGBT activists, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, Avijit Roy’s deshi government to do more to pro- according to Human Rights Watch. wife, survived the assault and is a prom- tect atheist writers. She will be speak- “Whenever we started out of the inent voice at global forums and the ing at FFRF’s convention in Pittsburgh See Abir finds asylum on page 5 Page 2 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin October 2016 Universities Virginia Tech Virginia Tech’s Director of Athletics Whit Bab- Continued from front page Pray cock’s response to our letter, dated Oct. 15, 2015, in- Additionally, these schools employ only Christian TO dicated that Virginia Tech has taken positive steps re- chaplains, showing an unconstitutional preference garding its chaplain, but that the program continues. for Christianity. This is in spite of the fact that 44 Following FFRF’s exposé, money was repaid to percent of college-aged Americans are non-Christian Play the university after team Chaplain Dave Gittings and and fully a third of millennials identify as nonreli- Christian coaches and chaplains are converting his family traveled with the team and stayed in team gious, according to the Pew Research Center. football fields into mission fields hotels, received per diem payments for bowl games, In order to aid these universities in protecting and received complimentary season tickets. their students from religious discrimination, FFRF is However, Virginia Tech appears to have retained also recommending the adoption of a model policy, its chaplaincy program as a whole. Gittings contin- which includes the maintenance of complete offi- ues to serve as the team chaplain, and he apparently cial neutrality in matters of religion. If adopted, this provides “weekly large group meetings open to the model policy would not only bring the schools into student athletes, small group team bible studies, one compliance with the law, but would send the message on one discipleship, coaches bible studies and a min- that the universities value the right of every student istry to the ladies who love and support the coach athlete to hold his or her own religious or nonreli- called Behind The Bench.” gious views, free from direct or indirect coercion or According to Virginia Tech’s Gobbler Connect contrary endorsement. Organizations Directory, there are more than 60 re- ligious organizations for students to choose from. Georgia Tech © Chris Szagola/NewSport/Corbis There is no need for the Virginia Tech football pro- At Georgia Tech, it appears that Derrick Moore gram to provide Christian chaplains in order for the continues to serve as its football chaplain and re- student-athletes to freely exercise their religions. ceives compensation from the school for his religious services. Moore prays with the team before games FFRF released a “Pray to Play” exposé last year, Wisconsin while wielding a sledgehammer at times. condemning more than 25 public universities for “Apparently, we need to sledgehammer Georgia letting football coaches impose their personal FFRF has been badgering the University of Wis- Tech officials in order to get any meaningful re- religion on players by hiring Christian chaplains. consin about its chaplaincy program for many years, sponse,” Barker adds. however, it has yet to issue a formal response to South Carolina FFRF’s newest concerns. Missouri FFRF is pleased to report the departure of Chap- Father Michael Burke, a Catholic priest, continues The University of Missouri last year quickly re- lain Adrian Despres, about whom it complained last to serve as the UW football chaplain. For decades, plied to FFRF’s letter, stating that it had no intention year. Burke has traveled with the team, led team prayers to change its program. However, it appears that the new University of and provided religious services, among other chap- As with the other schools, it contended that Miz- South Carolina football head coach, Will Mus- lain duties. He has access to team facilities and has zou’s football chaplaincy is acceptable because it is champ, has decided that he wants “multiple voices even participated in recruiting. voluntary. Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin wrote that “in- available to assist with the spiritual development Burke has a history of leading the team in pre- teraction with the chaplain and attendance at these of student-athletes,” as he was quoted in an official game prayers. These prayers are coercive. A former services is strictly voluntary.” But former coach Gary statement on Despres’ exit. Furthermore, he told a Jewish player told a reporter that he had to opt to sit Pinkel invited a chaplain to deliver prayers for the Rotary Club meeting earlier this year, “There’s no with the group while it was praying and listen silently whole team in the locker room. question being a Christian is very important to me. so as to not appear socially out of place. Also, chaplains Shay Roush and Nathan Tiemey- . That’s not something I push on our players. It’s FFRF is particularly concerned that the UW foot- er are not uncompensated or purely “volunteer.” As something I make readily available for our players.” ball program has been subsidizing Burke’s travel with FFRF’s report details, both have received per diem As an initial matter, it is improper for a public the team.

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