Coach-led prayer banned in city league

Coach-led prayers will not be permitted in Portales City League Sports to avoid possible legal issues, according to Director Mike Doerr.

He informed city league coaches of his decision Tuesday night during a meeting. Doerr said he has observed coach-led prayers at league contests.

"We have multiple ethnicities, nationalities and religious backgrounds involved in our city leagues," Doerr said. "As much freedom as everyone has to express religious views, we must have the courtesy to respect the views of others."

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

The Portales junior league Broncos practice plays Wednesday at Rotary Park. Coach Troy Gardner said he supports his players in what actions they do religiously but doesn't lead his team in prayer.

Doerr said family members of a player in one of the football leagues asked him if they had organized prayer at games because they didn't want the player to feel left out.

Doerr, son of City Attorney Steve Doerr, sought legal advice on the situation from his father's work office.

"I'm taking a proactive stance and asked my superiors because I feel like it's a relevant threat," Mike Doerr said. "There's nothing up for discussion, this applies to all sports leagues from here on out."

Mike Doerr made it clear that players have the freedom to pray or observe a moment of silence at practices and games.

Portales city-sponsored sports have been around for at least 25 years and Doerr said this had not been an issue until now. The decision will affect 2,000 adults and children players in Roosevelt County.

"Portales city sports coaches that violate any league rules are subject to disciplinary action and potentially removal from that sport," Doerr said. "This has nothing to do with Christianity and religion at all, this is a proactive decision because we don't want to ostracize individuals."

City Councilor Leo Lovett said he's received complaints from citizens about the issue.

"The biggest concern was the impression that peers were not allowed to have prayer if they chose to lead it," Lovett said. "There was an understanding that their Constitutional rights were being trampled on, but that is not the case."

Lovett said he supports and encourages player-led prayer because the city acknowledges freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

"If a kid so chooses to pray, they have that right to pray with whomever chooses to join in," Lovett said. "Me as a councilor, I uphold that child's right. Students can always pray and that is something that the city does not want to take away at all."

Chuck Abbott, city league coach and director of the city's recreation board, said Doerr is just doing his job.

"Mike's personal position is irrelevant," he said.

Abbott said prayer and religion have never been an issue when he coaches.

"We're out here to teach kids how to play football and have fun," Abott said. "Religion is a personal thing and should stay that way. That's how we learn to live peacefully amongst each other."

City Councilor Antonio Salguero thinks eliminating coach-led prayer is terrible.

"This nation was founded on God," Salguero said. "It's terrible that a small percent can dictate what the rest of people do."