Religious freedom need not be a complicated concept. You can believe what you like. You have the right to worship the god (or gods) of your choice – or worship no god at all if you like. The problem is, some people are never satisfied with exercising that private right. They demand that they be allowed to use government channels to impose what they believe on others.

I’ve written before about some Christian cheerleaders in Kountze, Texas, who have taken to creating large banners containing Bible verses that are displayed during high school football games. When school officials told them to stop, the cheerleaders got an attorney to sue on their behalf in state court. Not surprisingly, the local judge sided with the cheerleaders, accepting their argument that their free speech rights had been violated.

The judge is wrong. No rights have been violated. No one has the right to use a government forum (such as a public school) to impose religion onto others.

--snip--

Writing in USA Today, Ken Paulson, president and CEO of the First Amendment Center, called for an end to sectarian activity at high school events.

“The safest course for all public schools is to simply call for a moment of silence before a game,” Paulson observed. “Players, coaches and fans alike can then pray silently in the tradition of their own faiths or simply sit in reflection. That will keep schools out of court, leave freedom of faith intact and ensure an even playing field for all religions.”

Another option would be for the cheerleaders in Kountze and all of those who agree with them to understand that not everyone shares their enthusiasm for ostentatious public displays of faith and in-your-face forms of proselytizing.

http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2012/10/hey-cheerleaders-forcing-your-faith-onto-others-isnt-religious-liberty/