Atheists attack Alabama football team over use of official team chaplain

Atheist activist are demanding for the abolishment of the chaplaincy in the Auburn University football team

Atheist activists see the presence of the chaplaincy in the football team of the Auburn University in Alabama as unconstitutional and wants it abolished.

MUNTINUPA CITY, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding the abolishing of the chaplaincy in the football team of the Auburn University football team. The group sees it as unconstitutional. They sent a letter to the president of the Auburn University, Jay Gouge this week, claiming that the team's chaplain presence in the team is entirely inappropriate.

Chette Williams' removal from the team as the official chaplain has been petitioned by the group to the university's governing body.

According to the Freedom from Religion Foundation's letter, "It makes no difference if the chaplain is unofficial, not school-sponsored or a volunteer, because chaplains are given access to the team as a means for coaches to impose religion, usually Christianity, on their players. Under the circumstances, the chaplain's actions are attributable to the university and those actions are unconstitutional."

The atheist group has claimed that Williams has admitted to baptizing students and is still seen presently patrolling the sideline of the football field praying with the players. These acts are claimed to be problematic, according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

"The current policies at Auburn University fail to properly protect your student athletes' rights of conscience and post a high degree of risk of discrimination," the letter continues.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has also initiated a press release, making it clear to Auburn University that they need to "abolish the chaplaincy." The atheist group claims the Auburn officials have ignored all their attempts to obtain public records related to the matter.

"[We are] now considering an open records lawsuit against the university and has consulted with Alabama attorneys," the group said in a separate statement.

The demand for the chaplaincy to be abolished in Auburn, Alabama is also a devised way to promote a new report aiming toward the other 25 public universities in the area that allow chaplains to serve on the football team.

"If the team wants to worship, they want to get together on their own and have their own organized worship, that's totally fine," Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney Andrew Seideltold. "We don't have any problem with that. We don't have any problem with them praying in whatever way they see fit, what we have a problem with is the top down imposition of religion."

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