Pressure by Freedom From Religion Foundation lawyers concerned “constitutional principle”
In a stunning move by Tattnall County High School in Georgia, the district fired head football coach Isaac Ferrell just weeks after a baptism involving 20 of his players after practice.
However, the district is saying the reason for the firing is related to an incident that happened on November 3 after a team game during the drive home.
“The safety and security of our students is paramount to Tattnall County Board of Education. Based on the outcome of an investigation into an incident that occurred Friday night, November 3rd while traveling after the football game, the District decided that it would seek a Head football coach that aligned with the best interests of the students of Tattnall County for the 2024-2025 school year,” the statement read. “As to any other allegations, the District does not comment during ongoing investigations.”
FFRF airs their opinion
Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) heard about the baptism and decided they would air their opinion and went so far as to write a letter to Tattnall County school district superintendent reporting what they claim is a “constitutional violation.”
The letter continued, “Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church.” FFRF attorney Chris Line asked the school superintendent “ensure that this school-sponsored religious coercion ends immediately.”
Yet, the “constitutional principle” FFRF references is not in the constitution. Constitutional attorneys including House Speaker Mike Johnson believe the idea FFR is trying to push is nothing but a misnomer.
Misunderstanding separation of church and state
“The separation of church and state is a misnomer, people misunderstand it. Of course, it comes from a phrase that was in a letter that [Thomas] Jefferson wrote, it’s not in the Constitution,” Johnson told CNBC’s “Squawk Box”.
“What he (Jefferson) was explaining is they did not want the government to encroach upon the church, not that they didn’t want principles of faith to encroach on our public life. It’s exactly the opposite.”
The team published the baptism on Facebook, saying the coach “gave the players the opportunity” to make a decision themselves. 20 of them decided on their own whether to be baptized or not.
“Yesterday after practice Coach Ferrell gave the guys the opportunity to be baptized by Pastor Few. 20 young men made the decision to go #ALLIN with Christ!! Show them some support #BiggerThanFootball”
