Anti-Religious Group Claims Coach Attending Christian Revival Is ‘Unconstitutional’
The so-called “Freedom From Religion Foundation” has declared that it is “unconstitutional” for a football coach to attend a Christian revival event on campus at Auburn University in Alabama.
The far-left, anti-religious group is attempting to stifle Christian baptisms at the university, especially after Auburn University head football coach Hugh Freeze helped with the baptisms.
In a letter to Auburn University President Christopher Roberts, the Freedom From Religion Foundation claimed that Freeze’s actions were a violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
“These ongoing and repeated constitutional violations at the University create a coercive environment that excludes those students who don’t subscribe to the Christian views being pushed onto players by their coaches,” the letter read.
Meanwhile, legal experts say that the anti-religious group has no case. Tyson Langhofer — senior counsel and director of the Center for Academic Freedom, which is affiliated with Alliance Defending Freedom — argued that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has a “twisted interpretation of the First Amendment.”
“Freedom From Religion Foundation’s twisted interpretation of the First Amendment has the potential to crush both students’ and their coaches’ essential right to live out their faith,” Langhofer wrote in a statement.
“Public universities are supposed to be the marketplace of ideas and have an obligation to protect and promote free speech and free exercise of religion,” he added.
The event that the anti-religious group is attempting to stifle was a Christian Revival event at Neville Arena on Auburn University’s campus with roughly 5,000 people in attendance — most of whom were students.
“Auburn University is a public university, not a religious one,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation stated, adding: “It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for University employees to use their University position to organize, promote, or participate in a religious worship event. Nor can Auburn’s coaches proselytize or participate in religious activities with students or hire a chaplain to do so.”
Langhofer slammed the group’s attempt at shutting down religious freedom, declaring the letter itself “unconstitutional.”
“As the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed in the Coach Kennedy case, religious coaches and students have the right to engage in religious activities on campus in their private capacity. FFRF’s desire to silence religious students sends a clear message: ‘You are not welcome here.’ That’s unconstitutional,” Langhofer wrote.
The baptisms were reportedly part of a “Unite Auburn” event featuring a performance from Christian worship band Passion — with several speakers in attendance including Jennie Allen, Reverend Jonathan Pokluda and the lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.
