CYO Institutes New Prayer; Do You Agree?

Take a poll at the bottom of this page.

A short prayer is now being said at center court prior to Catholic Youth Organization basketball games by coaches and players. Players do not need to participate and can remain on the bench if they choose.

CYO previously had prayer before volleyball games and just last week had its first basketball game with the prayer after warm-ups and before the game started.

CYO has an FAQ on their website about prayer before the game, which includes the short prayer and information about why and how it was implemented before all games.

According to the CYO website, the prayer is being implemented in order to help enhance players' overall growth:

The intention of introducing prayer into CYO Athletics is to more deeply promote the mission of CYO Athletics to help young people integrate their physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual strengths through sports. The use of prayer enhances the overall well-being of young athletes by helping to put sports into a broader perspective; emphasizing not only the number of games won or lost, but impacting participants’ attitude in victory and defeat.

But, some people are getting up in arms.

Richard Sloan, trustee for the Lagunitas School District who co-owns the San Geronimo Valley Gym, was recently quoted in the Marin Independent Journal on Jan. 7 as saying,

“I understand that if we rent to one religious group, we have to rent to them all. But I still don't like it, I'm going to put up a sign in front of the gym: 'If you don't pray in my school, I won't think in your church.’” 

If I’m Mr. Sloan, I’m immediately and publically removing my foot from my oversized mouth and swiftly kicking myself in the behind as I genuflect in front of the Lagunitas School District Board of Trustees and ask for their forgiveness for speaking out of turn.

Or is it the school district’s opinion that the CYO should be actively and aggressively discouraged and dissuaded from allowing prayer before games?  Perhaps the school board is doing so well financially that they don’t need the revenues from renting out the gym to the CYO, and they’d prefer the CYO take their business to the other side of the hill where another school district might appreciate and need the additional revenue more? 

I’m not saying I’m for or against the issue of public prayer, but I’ve seen a lot more offensive public behavior, like Mr. Sloan weighing in on the subject in the first place. I’m offended by his lack of business sense and religious intolerance.

Mr. Sloan is fortunate he’s dealing with the CYO, who are likely to turn the other cheek. They aren’t looking for a fight or a hard time, and neither am I. If anyone has a right to complain about prayer before games it is the parents who signed up their kids for Catholic sports, not realizing prayer might take place at some point. Those families should be allowed to quit and get their money back if they are so inclined, but I doubt anyone is going to pull their kids from the Catholic league over pre-game prayer. My daughter’s coach has heard nothing to that effect.

Tom Vogelheim, who coaches at , also said he hasn't had any feedback from kids or parents yet.

"As far as changing anything, I heard that even though they said the prayer, the kids still missed some open shots, so apparently no change," joked Vogelheim as well.

My 10-year-old daughter is playing in the CYO for the first time and we had no idea prayer would be involved. She recently wrote an essay in the Elk’s Lodge contest about why she is proud to say the Pledge of Allegiance. One thing I’d like to add to her essay: that her father is proud to say the Pledge of Allegiance because people have religious freedom in this country and the right to practice their beliefs in public places. Last time I checked, the Lagunitas School District gymnasium is a public place. It’s far out in the valley, but it’s not that far out.

Or maybe it is. Perhaps Mr. Sloan would like to annex a section of the valley from Marin County and set up boarders where people are forbidden from public prayer? The only problem, I wonder how he’s going to fund such a place? He won’t be renting a gym to the CYO, or likely anyone else.     

- Additional reporting was done by Kelly Dunleavy O'Mara