On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Condemns NFL, Defends Churches' Right to Hold Big-Screen Super Bowl Viewing Parties
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --Rutherford Institute attorneys are defending the right of churches across the nation to gather their congregations together for big-screen Super Bowl viewing parties despite attempts by the National Football League to have the events cancelled. In a letter to NFL officials condemning the league's efforts to discourage churches from hosting mass-viewing parties, Institute attorneys are defending the churches' right to assemble members of their congregations to watch the game on large-screen TVs, in addition to their right to show a video in conjunction with the football game about the Christian faith of two of the team coaches.
"Surely the NFL can find something better to do than pick on small churches wanting to gather together and cheer on their Super Bowl teams? These churches have a constitutional right to assemble their congregants, and it shouldn't matter whether these people are gathering to protest the war, pray for the nation or watch a football game," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "If the NFL has no objection to alcohol-laden viewing parties at sports bars, it makes no sense that they would object to football fans gathering at more wholesome family-oriented events to support their teams."
The dispute arose after NFL attorneys reportedly warned officials at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis against hosting a "Super Bowl Bash" to which church members and guests were invited to watch the championship game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears on a wall projector at the church.
According to an article in the Indianapolis Star, NFL officials sent Fall Creek's Pastor John D. Newland a letter demanding that the party be cancelled. Some of the things to which NFL attorneys objected were the church's plan to charge partygoers a fee to attend; the church's use of the words "Super Bowl" in its promotions; the church's plan to use a projector to show the game on a 12-foot-wide screen; and the church's plan to show a video in conjunction with the game highlighting the Christian testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.
Despite the church's willingness to drop the use of the words "Super Bowl" and not charge attendees a small fee to cover the cost of snacks, the NFL has remained adamant in its insistence that the event be cancelled. In comments made to the Star, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello defended the league's actions, pointing to its longstanding policy against "mass out-of-home viewings" of the Super Bowl, even if they don't charge admission, and requirement that hosts of parties only use one TV that is no bigger than 55 inches.
In justifying the league's objection to the Christian testimonial video, an NFL attorney stated, "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." The NFL makes an exception to its mass-viewing policy for sports bars that show televised sports on a regular basis. Super Bowl XLI is scheduled to take place in Miami, Fla., on Feb. 4, 2007, and will be broadcast on television by CBS.
