CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Can Schools Pray Before Games? Supreme Court to Decide | Cambridge Christian Prayer Case 2025
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Can Schools Pray Before Games? Supreme Court to Decide | Cambridge Christian Prayer Case 2025
Hi everyone,
Will Christian schools be silenced at the 50-yard line?
Cambridge Christian School is taking its fight for pregame prayer all the way to the US Supreme Court. After being blocked from praying over the loudspeaker at a championship game, the school argues their First Amendment rights were violated.
QUICK REMINDER: Before we continue, please subscribe for more updates on faith, law, and freedom.
In 2015, Cambridge Christian School and Jacksonville’s University Christian School played in a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state football championship at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. The schools requested to lead a brief communal prayer over the stadium loudspeaker before the game—a tradition the schools say was customary at their games. The FHSAA denied this request, citing the Establishment Clause and concerns that it would constitute government endorsement of religion.
The schools sued, but both the federal district court (2022) and a three-judge Eleventh Circuit panel (September 2024) ruled the same: announcements via the PA system were government speech, since every word was scripted and controlled by FHSAA employees. That meant Cambridge Christian lacked First Amendment protection to deliver the prayer.
The Eleventh Circuit later denied an en banc rehearing in February 2025.
On June 6, 2025, Cambridge Christian’s legal team (together with First Liberty Institute and others) filed a 37-page petition for certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to review the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling. They argue it strays from past rulings such as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022) and urges an overruling of Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe (2000).
This is their core argument: labeling the school-led prayer as government speech “abandons the foundational promises of the First Amendment” by blanket-disqualifying private religious expression in public speech contexts.
Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier, together with attorneys general from 17 other states, filed a coordinated amicus brief supporting the school’s petition. They argue Santa Fe v. Doe was wrongly decided and should be overruled, and claim the denial represents viewpoint discrimination against religious speech, despite allowing secular and commercial messages over the same PA system.
On September 29, 2025, the Supreme Court will hold a closed-door conference to consider whether to grant certiorari. If they do, the case may be argued during the 2025-2026 term. If not allowed, the Eleventh Circuit’s decision stands as final.
QUESTION: Do you believe students should have the right to publicly pray before games? Let us know your views in the Comments section.
Summary of the developing legal dispute surrounding Cambridge Christian School and its petition to the U.S. Supreme Court:
Case Background
In 2015, Cambridge Christian School and Jacksonville’s University Christian School played in a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state football championship at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. The schools requested to lead a brief communal prayer over the stadium loudspeaker before the game—a tradition the schools say was customary at their games. The FHSAA denied this request, citing the Establishment Clause and concerns that it would constitute government endorsement of religion
The schools sued, but both the federal district court (2022) and a three-judge Eleventh Circuit panel (September 2024) ruled the same: announcements via the PA system were government speech, since every word was scripted and controlled by FHSAA employees. That meant Cambridge Christian lacked First Amendment protection to deliver the prayer
The Eleventh Circuit later denied an en banc rehearing in February 2025.
Petition to the Supreme Court
On June 6, 2025, Cambridge Christian’s legal team (with First Liberty Institute and others) filed a 37-page petition for certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to review the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling. They argue it strays from prior decisions like Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022) and urges an overruling of Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe (2000)
Their core argument: labeling the school-led prayer as government speech “abandons the foundational promises of the First Amendment” by blanket-disqualifying private religious expression in public speech settings
Support from State Officials & Others
Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier, joined by AGs from 17 states, filed a coordinated amicus brief supporting the school’s petition. They argue Santa Fe v. Doe was wrongly decided and should be overruled, and claim the denial represents viewpoint discrimination against religious speech, despite allowing secular and commercial messages over the same PA system
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Court will consider whether to grant certiorari in a closed-door conference on September 29, 2025. If they do, the case could be argued during the 2025‑2026 term. If not granted, the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling stands as final
Key Legal Issues & Implications
Is pregame prayer government speech?
The lower courts said yes, giving FHSAA control over messaging. Cambridge Christian urges the Court to overturn that label unless every word is authored by the government.
Viewpoint discrimination
Critics argue banning religious speech (the prayer) while allowing other private messages–secular or commercial—on the same system violates the Free Speech Clause.
Established precedent tension
The school asks the Court to overturn Santa Fe (2000), which once prohibited student‑led loudspeaker prayers. They invoke Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022) to support broader protection of religious expression in public school contexts.
If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, a ruling could significantly recalibrate the balance of religious expression and government neutrality in public-school-related contexts nationwide.
CAN SCHOOLS PRAY BEFORE GAMES? Supreme Court to Decide | Cambridge Christian Prayer Case 2025 | Christian Breaking News!
CAN SCHOOLS PRAY BEFORE GAMES? Supreme Court to Decide | Cambridge Christian Prayer Case 2025 | Christian Breaking News!