Atheist Group is Targeting Mississippi State Sports

Sep 20, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott warms up before a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

There is an atheist group out there whose sole mission is to attack religious groups who have any affiliation with public organizations. They have now targeted Mississippi State sports.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed an open records request to MSU on September 11th – just one week after doing the same thing at Ole Miss. Their goal: to eliminate team chaplains.

Here is their request per the Clarion-Ledger story:

1. All Football Program, university, and athletic department policies concerning coach or clergy-led prayers for student athletes.
2. All related announcements to religious services, prayer gatherings, Bible studies, Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings, or other religious activities in which either Chaplain was involved.
3. All communications between Football Program staff and Jolley or Buckley.
4. All records related to the Jolley and/Buckley’s travel with the football team.
5. All records related to financial payments or reimbursements made to them.
6. All job postings for the football program chaplains, or any other position primarily revolving around the spiritual development of football players.
7. Any other records related to the chaplain’s official or unofficial football team duties or activities.

They’ve got a lawyer working for them who without a doubt is trying to find some technicality he can turn into a judgement against MSU using chaplains, or allowing chaplains to receive anything from the athletic department.

Let’s hope MSU has the lawyers to defend this type of harassment by an intolerant organization like the FFRF. Let’s hope Ole Miss does too. Let’s band together as a state to stop this terrible attack on our values – on our way of life. On the thing that should be the most important part of our lives.

Matt Jolley is the chaplain of the MSU baseball team. I’m sure you’ve heard about how spiritual the Diamond Dawgs have been the last few years – under the leadership of head coach John Cohen….who is Jewish! Just last year after a tough loss they found the time to lay hands on, and pray for a young boy battling illness. Thanks in large part to the guidance from chaplain Matt Jolley, who had a remarkable effect on the 2013 College World Series team, team leaders like Ross Mitchell have been encouraged to start on-campus activities for worship, and much of the team are vocal followers of Christ.

Bill Buckley is the chaplain for the MSU football team. He is very involved with team activities, and is with the players and coaches all the time.  He is a former Bulldog himself, playing receiver from 1971-73. Here is an excerpt from that article.

"I think [the players] know that I understand where they are and what they go through. During a game week, the conversations I have with some of these guys is just incredible. Those kids really just have a passion for the Lord. Without shoving doctrine, without the sign out front, it’s a pure thing."

Please pray for the leaders at Mississippi State as they deal with this. And pray that the FFAF will not be successful, but better yet, be convicted that what they are doing is wrong and they will turn to the Lord.