The Auburn University baseball program received a demand from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) concerning new practice gear and prayer, which they say coerce players to participate in religion.
FFRF accused the university of a history of prioritizing religion.
“Auburn University continues an upsetting and concerning trend of allowing athletics coaches to proselytize student-athletes with seemingly no real consequences,” says FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor. “There are undoubtedly students who are too afraid to speak up about representing a religion that they are actually not a part of. They are owed an explanation as to why their rights are consistently being sidelined.”
Former Auburn baseball player Mason Maners serves as the team’s chaplain. He offers Bible studies and prays with the team.
The FFRF accused the team of having jerseys that say “Jesus Won” with a cross on the front. However, the jerseys are actually practice pullovers.
The foundation previously contacted Auburn University over its hiring of Christian chaplains, actions of chaplains and over a religious event that was attended by multiple coaches and where head football coach Hugh Freeze baptized a player.
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