The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia mailed a letter to Gate City High School Principal Greg Ervin Tuesday in response to a prayer held before last Friday's football game against Sullivan South High School. According to ACLU Legal Director Rebecca Glenberg, a concerned parent contacted her organization about the situation.
"It is my understanding that at a recent game, prior to the National Anthem, a student came over the public address system and said she was a member of the 'Fellowship of Christian Athletes,'" Glenberg wrote in her letter. "After a moment of silence to honor a deceased football player (to which we have no objection), the student delivered a prayer which concluded, 'In Jesus' name, Amen.'"
As part of her letter, Glenberg alerted Gate City High School that prayers before football games are unconstitutional.
"These kinds of opening prayers at football games have been specifically held by the Supreme Court to violate the First Amendment," Glenberg said. "Even under these circumstances, the prayer bore the mark of school sponsorship, so it really shouldn't have happened."
Glenberg says since sending the letter, the school has responded to the ACLU's concerns.
"What we were told is that this is not a regular occurrence at high school games, it was not the school's policy to allow such prayers, and that the student had acted on her own in delivering the prayer," Glenberg said. "We are satisfied to know that this was not part of the school's policy and that the school is committed to insuring that the law is followed."
Gate City High School's principal has no regrets about the events leading up to Friday's game.
"We felt for (Sullivan South) and we wanted to do something ot honor them or to show that our hearts were with them and I thought we had a young lady who did a tremendous job," Greg Ervin said. "I thought it was very fitting and very appropriate and I thought that our kids did a beautiful job and I was very proud of them."
According to Ervin, prayer is extremely uncommon before Gate City football games. He said Friday's situation was the result of a unique set of circumstances.
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