FFRF urges Univ. of Mich. papal audience cancelled

April 24, 2017

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging the University of Michigan's football team to cancel a scheduled papal audience during its current visit to Europe.

A concerned individual contacted FFRF to report that on its ongoing European trip, the University of Michigan football team is planning to attend a ceremony by the pope at the Vatican this Wednesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time (about 4 a.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.). The local media has reported head coach Jim Harbaugh as stating that he wants this religious event "to be the greatest experience of our players' lives up until this point."

Far from merely a speech by a celebrity, a papal audience is a religious activity in which the pope prays and delivers an "Apostolic Blessing" upon those in attendance. It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for a public university to include a religious ceremony, particularly a sectarian one, on a European trip that an entire student athletic team is expected to attend.

"The University of Michigan is showing favoritism to one religion, Roman Catholicism, over all minority religions and nonreligion by taking students to a devotional Catholic event, led by the head of the Catholic Church," FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor write to University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel. "This practice violates the well-established constitutional principle that the government must remain neutral toward religion."

https://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/29222-ffrf-urges-univ-of-mich-papal-audience-cancelled



University of Michigan Rejects Atheists' Claim That Football Team Meeting Pope Francis Is Unconstitutional

BY MICHAEL GRYBOSKI

Members of the University of Michigan's football team met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, despite complaints from the nation's largest atheist organization saying the student activity was unconstitutional.

In addition to football practice and cultural sightseeing, the Wolverines' trip to Rome included an optional visit to the Vatican and a chance to see Pope Francis and receive a blessing during the weekly "Papal Audience."

Rick Fitzgerald, director of public affairs at the university, told The Christian Post that the visit to Vatican City, as well as the Papal Audience, were optional for the students.

"Some players who chose not to meet the pontiff today were able to join the tour of the Vatican, just as those who chose not to visit the Vatican had the opportunity to relax at the hotel or take advantage of other sightseeing options," said Fitzgerald.

"In fact, there were members of the football team who chose not to make the trip to Italy at all. As adults, these players are able to make informed decisions on their own."

http://www.christianpost.com/news/university-michigan-rejects-atheists-claim-football-team-meeting-pope-francis-unconstitutional-181786/