Baseball Coach Under Fire From Atheists For Pre-Game Prayers

Heather Clark

christiannews.net

OWASSO, Okla. – An acclaimed high school baseball coach is under fire from a prominent atheist activist organization for allegedly leading his team in prayers before games.

Larry Turner, 56, was named the best high school baseball coach in the United States last year as he was dubbed the 2013 National Baseball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations. He has won ten state championships over his 32-year tenure and averages 31 wins per season.

In addition to coaching youth at Owasso High School, Turner also focuses on teaching youth to be a blessing to society. According to reports, the team has supported the Special Olympics, visited war veterans and has spent time reading to children.

But because Turner reportedly also leads his team in prayer, as well as some of the assistant coaches, he is now under fire from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), which is urging the superintendent of Owasso Public Schools to put an end to the practice. The group states that it received a complaint from a “concerned citizen” that it left unidentified.

The Madison, Wisconsin-based organization sent a letter to Superintendent Clark Ogilvie on Monday, outlining the complaint and asserting that the prayers are a “serious violation of the First Amendment.”

“The coaches’ apparent organizing and obvious participation in a team prayer constitutes an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion,” a letter written by FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel stated.

He requested an investigation into the matter and that the district disallow coaches from leading prayers.

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