Lawsuit by Mormon lead to end of football game prayers (Football Prayer Debated by School)
Minneapolis MN Star-Tribune (AP) 26Aug99 L1
By Christ Fletcher: Associated Press Writer

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- In the wake of a suit by a Mormon and a Catholic against prayers before High School football games, a Texas teenager has decided not to lead the prayers she had been elected to. Stephanie Vega had been elected by fellow students at Santa Fe High School in Houston to "solemnize" each of her school's home football games. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier this year that prayers before football games were unconstitutional. Santa Fe superintendent Richard Ownby warned students that anyone that led prayers at the football games "would be disciplined as if they had cursed."

The issue began when the Mormon and Catholic families filed suit in 1995, saying that the prayers established religion at the school. The families are not part of the dominant Southern Baptist religion in the area. While federal judge had generally sided with the school, the appeals court ruled that the use of the word "invocation" implied government support of prayer and was unconstitutional.

The school district, supported by Texas Governor George W. Bush and seven states, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.