09/22/2011 – FoxNews.com An Alabama superintendent is reportedly banning public prayer before high school football games over claims by one parent that the 10-year-old practice violates the First Amendment.
John Mullins, superintendent of Arab City Schools in Arab, Ala., said he chose to toss out pregame prayer at Arab High School after receiving a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, WAAY-TV reports.
The Wisconsin-based group reportedly wrote the letter on behalf of an anonymous parent who objected to prayer at games.
“Yes in our personal lives in Arab we are Christian, but our priority is to serve the students of this school system and provide them education” Mullins told the station. “And we at this time can’t commit the energy and time and financial resources to battle a case we most likely will not win.”
Mullins said the high school football games will instead begin with a moment of silence.
“We wish we could continue praying but we can’t,” he said.
