A Georgia school district launched an investigation after a video of a mass baptism on Villa Rica High School's grounds was posted on YouTube.
According to The Associated Press, 18 students and one coach were baptized Aug. 17 after school and before football practice.
The Rev. Kevin Williams, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Villa Rica, told The AP participation was "voluntary" and that the mass baptism had a positive effect on the team.
"They're 0-2 this year, but you'd think they're 15-0 and already won the state championship. That's how they're acting," Williams told The AP.
Whether optional or not, the baptism drew criticism from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which sent a letter on Tuesday to the Carroll County School District asking it to “immediately investigate and take action to ensure there will be no further illegal religious events,” Matthew Pearl and Julie Wolfe wrote for USA Today.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation's letter:
Freedom From Religion Foundation Letter
A Washington Post report indicated the district is looking into the situation to make sure state and federal laws are being followed.
But the question remains, was Williams and First Baptist Church in the wrong to hold a mass baptism at the school? Or is the Freedom from Religion Foundation attacking religious freedom?
The event proved important because it reached out to teenagers in Villa Rica, where several young people have committed suicide, Williams told the Christian Post.
"We're trying our best as a community to reach out to these kids and love them and show them there's a better way — there's hope," Williams said. "That's what we are providing through Jesus Christ to these kids."
However, the Washington Post reported that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down religious prayer in 1963, and displays of faith at school-sponsored events have incited controversy since.
That is why Charles Haynes, vice president of the Newseum Institute’s Religious Freedom Center, called the mass baptisms "problematic."
"The players are a captive audience,” Haney told the Post. “School officials may not allow outside adults to have access to students for religious activities in these circumstances."
Watch the baptisms below:
Latest faith stories:
Ky. clerk’s office will issue marriage licenses Friday — without the clerk
Papal Mass in Washington will be in Spanish
Judge jails Kentucky clerk for refusing marriage licenses
Payton Davis is the Deseret News National intern. Send him an email at pdavis@deseretdigital.com and follow him on Twitter, @Davis_DNN.