Christian Examiner staff report

FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. —More than 500 people turned out Sept. 29 for a support rally for a north Georgia school cheer squad who has been banned from using religious messages in their football game banners. The policy change came after a spectator complained that the teens used a large banner reading “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:14.”

The mammoth banners are used for the football players to break through as part of a pre-game tradition that is practiced in stadiums across the country. According to a local pastor, the cheerleaders were using the biblically based messages to inspire the team and fans.

“The cheerleaders are not trying to push a religious cause, to shove religion down someone’s throat,” Pastor Brad Scott told theChattanooga Times Free Press. “The cheerleaders are just using Scripture to show motivation and inspiration to the players and the fans.”

But religious freedom groups, which have challenged similar public displays of religion, said the cheerleaders were clearly violating federal law.

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