Students and coaches taking part in a "mass baptism" on school property.
Administrators are investigating what went down at the Villa Rica high school in Georgia after a video was
shared on YouTube:
The video, posted by First Baptist Villa Rica, was shot on school grounds just before football practice. "We had the privilege of baptizing a bunch of football players and a coach on the field of Villa Rica High School! We did this right before practice! Take a look and see how God is STILL in our schools!" the caption with the video reads.
Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation asked for an immediate investigation (which the school district says is now underway), and she notes that many students involved in the football program are unlikely to have a choice in the baptism:
“Starting this video out, they call it a step of obedience, and then the camera pans to the students,” said Gaylor. “It’s forcing them to undergo a religious ritual to be accepted on a team. How are they going to cross their coach? They have no choice. It’s proselytizing, it’s coercive, and it’s not legal in our schools.”
The video was pulled from YouTube, but it can be seen at
11alive.com.
The football booster club is doubling down on the baptism. After the story made the news, they posted the following:
TO ALL FOOTBALL PLAYERS, PARENTS OF PLAYERS, COACHES, AND STAFF.........We sometimes have to wear our football ARMOUR off the field. We have to wear a breastplate of righteousness, helmets of salvation, and we must wear our cleats for the preparation of the gospel of peace. Our uniforms are our ARMOUR both on and off the field. " We have to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13. So not only on Friday nights do we wear our ARMOUR but everyday so that we are UNDEFEATED. GO CATS!!!!
There are definitely some school officials at Villa Rica that need a lesson in civics, specifically the chapter on the separation of church and state.