Somehow I don’t think this will get much coverage in the mainstream media because evangelical and fundamentalist Christians seem to be fair game for abuse these days. Even so, it strikes me as the height of ineptitude or arrogance for the NFL to tell an Indianapolis church it can’t host a “Super Bowl Party.” Here’s a news release from Liberty Counsel on the issue that I think sums it up rather succinctly: “The NFL s heavy-handed attempt to prohibit churches from showing the Super Bowl to church members defies common sense. The NFL demanded that Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, cancel its advertised Super Bowl party. “In addition to objecting to the church s use of the words ‘Super Bowl’ in promotions, the league objected to use of a screen larger than 55 inches and disliked the church s plans to show a video highlighting the Christian testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith. “The NFL freely admits it routinely makes exceptions for bars and other commercial establishments to show its games with big screen televisions and projection systems. Liberty Counsel characterized this unnecessary singling out of churches as heavy-handed and unfair. “The NFL has publicly stated a preference for establishments that sell alcohol over churches hosting a wholesome, family-oriented gathering to watch the biggest football game of the year. “With the popularity of big screen TVs and home entertainment, the NFL s heavy-handed intimidation tactics cross the line into private homes. Will the NFL demand that viewing the Super Bowl at home with friends must be done on screens smaller than 55 inches? “This is certainly not the intent of copyright laws, and such tactics by the NFL run afoul of common sense and the spirit of the game. “Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “‘People throughout the world gather to watch the greatest athletic event of the year. Some view the game on small screens and some on large screens. “‘When cars gather outside our private homes on Sunday afternoon, will the NFL knock on the door and ask to measure our TV screens? It appears that in the NFL s way of thinking, TV screens bigger than 55 inches are fine for bars but not churches. This discriminatory and nonsensical act of the NFL makes the league look petty, and the NFL should apologize for this silliness.’ Indeed. UPDATE: Church’s Message, Fee Were Problems for NFL Looks like the NFL’s big problem with the Indianapolis church’s plan for a Super Bowl party was the fact the event was associated with a message – the Christian Gospel – and an admission fee was to be charged to cover the cost of snacks. Rachel Margolies, an NFL assistant counsel was reported by the Indianapolis Star to have told the church in an email that the league was concerned about the church’s plans to show video of testimonies by Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungee and Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith about their Christian faith: “While this may be a noble message we are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content.” That’s certainly understandable. Why would the NFL want to be associated in any way with a belief system that teaches adherents to, among other things, love their neighbors as themselves and to pour themselves out in service to others? Another league spokesman told the Star the NFL has a problem with the snack fee the church had planned on charging attendees. I can certainly see how the $5.2 billion in revenues the NFL received in 2005 would have been threatened by the five or 10 bucks the church would have charged the thousands of Hoosiers who would have flocked to the church instead of the city’s many sports bars. Other coverage of this issue can be found at Slate and MSNBC. You can also read the church’s official statement here. Looks to this observer – who will be cheering for Peyton Manning and the Colts, by the way – that a photo of the NFL’s Annual Report should now be included in Webster’s with the entries for “greedy” and “arrogant.” Super Bowl NFL Free Speech First Amendment Christianity Religious Freedom Evangelicals Southern Baptists Indianapolis Congress
