Atheists Sue Football Coach Over Religion

[rug]

By Sean Kelly, Sun, January 24, 2016

Atheist organization Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has set its sights on Clemson University and their coach, Dabo Swinney — planning a lawsuit against the influence of Christian beliefs on the team.

FFRF plans to sue the school and Swinney in regard to the role of Christianity within the football program. They previously sent a complaint to the school in 2014, and have targeted a number of schools in an attempt to uphold the separation of church and state, according to JD Journal.

“At this point we don’t think the university has taken appropriate corrective action,” FFRF attorney Patrick Elliot said. “We still have concerns about how that program is being conducted. The university needs to appropriately monitor religious activity in its program.”

- snip -

Currently, however, FFRF does not have a Clemson player on their side that is willing to “challenge (the football program in court).”

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/atheists-sue-coach-over-religion

[exboyfil]

1. Could any recruit who is passed over for a scholarship

have standing if they expressed their unwillingness to join in prayer irrespective of their reason why?

[rug]

2. Definitely.

There would then be a direct line between the harm and the policy.

[Fumesucker]

3. Current players are uninterested in putting a target on their back

Can't say I blame them, it causes far less sturm und drang if you just go along with the nonsense. Atheists being the Kiss of Death and all that. I'm always impressed by how little faith theists actually have, how delicate and easily bruised their feelings when they have the creator of the universe as their personal buddy.

Give Jesus Christ the football let him even up the score

Run it through the crossbars and be on the cross no more

-Martin Mull, Jesus Christ Football Star

[onager]

4. Story total BS, invented by Tea Partier

Note the link at the bottom of the OP is back to the original source - Breitbart, not surprisingly.

Here's what the FFRF itself has to say:

Tea partier plays journalist: How the “news” you read is manufactured

If you followed the news surrounding the college football championship this week, you may have read erroneous reports that FFRF “plans to sue Clemson University...”

...Leahy began the call by essentially saying that he “needed a quote on Clemson.” After I answered several questions, it became clear that he was not an actual journalist. It was at that point that I found out he was calling from Breitbart “News” and I ended the call...

No legitimate news organization would authorize Leahy to interview sources for a story about FFRF. Not surprisingly, the Breitbart report was not accurate...

Instead of contacting FFRF or otherwise verifying the Breitbart piece, other media outlets copied it. Al.com ran an online story with the headline “Clemson lawsuit planned: Group turns its sights on Coach Dabo Swinney’s Christian faith.” (The headline and story were changed after FFRF informed the writer that it was not planning to sue Clemson).

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/freethoughtnow/tea-partier-plays-journalist-how-the-news-you-read-is-manufactured/

[rug]

5. Why are they not planning to sue?

Clemson is a public university. FFRF has complained about a violation. They have sued for less.

http://ffrf.org/news/media/item/25516-clemson-lawsuit-would-require-complaint-from-student-athlete-not-imminent-freedom-from-religion-foundation

Looks like the only reason they haven't yet filed suit is they can't find a plaintiff. There's no more pathos than a lawyer with a complaint drafted and no one to sign it.

Leahy "mumbled"? Frankly, Elliott's statement smacks of diversion.