A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta ruled that the Florida High School Athletic Association did not violate the First Amendment when it refused to allow Cambridge Christian School to broadcast a prayer over the stadium’s public address system before a 2015 championship football game. The school had argued that this restriction infringed on its rights to free speech and religious exercise.
(Wayne Masut via Flickr Creative Commons)The court concluded that the announcements made over the PA system at state-organized football finals are considered government speech. This means that such speeches are viewed as being endorsed by the state, which means that the regulations that apply to the First Amendment apply here.
The court’s opinion, written by Judge Ed Carnes, emphasized that the public perceives PA system announcements, including welcome messages and player introductions, as representing government views. Thus, the decision to exclude the prayer was deemed reasonable to avoid any appearance of government endorsement of religion, which could violate the Constitution’s separation of church and state.
Additionally, the court agreed with a lower court ruling that the FHSAA’s restrictions were valid because the game was held in a government-owned stadium and hosted by a state entity. The ruling also noted that a historical precedent for private prayers over the PA system at such events was rare and usually required approval.
The panel also found that the school’s request for future injunctions against similar restrictions was moot. Recent changes in Florida law and FHSAA policies now allow brief opening remarks, including prayers, at such events without specific content restrictions, effectively nullifying the previous policy.
The court ruled that the school’s request to prevent the FHSAA from banning prayers at games was no longer needed. That’s because new laws and rules allow short speeches, including prayers, at these events without special restrictions. So, the case will go back to the lower court, where they will officially end the school’s request because the new rules make it clear that the old rule about not allowing prayers is no longer a problem.
