JACKSON FANS FIND A WAY TO PRAY

Fueled by their strong religious beliefs and the independent spirit common to Southeast Missouri, Jackson football fans organized their own prayer at the Sept. 15 home football game.

Before a June Supreme Court ruling, prayer was a part of every home game. Various ministers took turns praying for good sportsmanship, Christian behavior and an injury-free contest. Most of the crowd bowed their heads reverently and gave a hearty "Amen!" at the end.

But the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against student-led, amplified prayer during football games.

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court: "Nothing in the Constitution ... prohibits any public school student from voluntarily praying at any time before, during or after the school day. But the religious liberty protected by the Constitution is abridged when the state affirmatively sponsors the particular religious practice of prayer."

Some Southeast Missouri districts already were in compliance with the ruling.

Cape Girardeau and Scott City had discontinued prayers at sporting events years ago after studying previous rulings. These districts sent the message that they will comply with the law even when personal and community beliefs dictate otherwise.

Jackson officials discontinued the practice of praying before football games this year.

Fans decided to take matters into their own hands last week. They joined a growing grassroots movement sweeping the South -- and now the Midwest -- where football game attendees have repeated the Lord's Prayer.

With the assurance from attorneys that it was perfectly legal, prayer organizers passed out flyers explaining how to participate in the group prayer. Right after the band finished the national anthem, a woman held up a sign that read "Pray." When she flipped it over to read "Our," some fans quietly began reciting the Lord's Prayer.

Organizer Butch Gast said he didn't receive any negative reactions. Nor should he have.

The display was in no way sanctioned by the school district. It consisted of individuals exercising their freedom of religion.

It certainly didn't harm the students. And there's a good possibility it helped them.