1ST AMENDMENT THROWDOWN
The local high school here finds itself in a bit of a jam:
Parkersburg South’s wrestling season is over.
But now the wrestling team is pinned over its tee shirts.
South’s wrestling team has tee shirts that have a Bible verse on the back.
It says “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13.
The wrestlers wore those shirts during their most recent season.
“Him” is usually translated “Christ.” If the kids were wearing the shirts as part of their uniforms, this would clearly be a violation of the Establishment Clause. And even if they’re just wearing them around school, it’s questionable since the front reads “Parkersburg South Wrestling.” The Superintendent made the right call to ban the shirts, but now a family has retained a lawyer because, they claim, their 1st Amendment free speech rights are being infringed.
Sorry, I’m not buying it. The wrestling team has been wearing shirts with that same verse for 15+ years. That seems, to me, to make it something of an unoffical team motto. And, therefore, forbidden.