Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Georgia High School Over Football Prayers

An atheist group reportedly filed a federal lawsuit against a Georgia high school this week, arguing that the school's football team is violating the constitution by leading prayer among its players.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court Monday by the American Humanist Association against the Hall County School System in Gainesville, Georgia, which oversees Chestatee High School.

Back in August, the atheist group accused Chestatee High School of violating the constitution by allowing coaches to lead students in prayer ahead of football games. The atheist group sent a letter to the school district requesting that they stop the practice of Christianity in coordination with the football program, including banning coaches from leading prayer, as well as the ban of reference to Scripture in team-related documents.

The letter sent by the American Humanist Association to the high school and Hall County superintendent said, in part: "We have been informed that the school's football coaches have been using their position to promote Christianity on the football team by integrating Bible verses into functional team documents and team promotions in various ways."

"Meanwhile, they have been either leading the team in prayer or participating in team prayers on a regular basis."

Although the school did reportedly tell the atheist group that it would take a series of steps to obey the constitution, the atheist group is arguing that the steps outlined are not thorough enough, and it is choosing to pursue the issue legally.

Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield told Access North Georgia that he learned of the lawsuit via the media, calling the issue "disappointing."

"This is a disappointing pattern that we have seen with this group in the past. Their desire to bring attention to their parochial interests is unfortunate," Schofield said in an email statement to the media outlet.

"We will continue to focus on educating children and working with our Hall County parents and community to provide an appropriate education for our boys and girls," the superintendent added.