Naperville schools ban prayer at sporting events

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A northern Illinois school district is banning "team prayers" at high school sporting events after a Wisconsin-based organization complained about the practice.

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges said Thursday that he will enact a ban on coach-led prayer at all Naperville Central High School and Naperville North High School student athletic events.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint this week after seeing a photo appearing to show Naperville Central High School kneeling in prayer before a Nov. 14 game against Waubonsie Valley High School.

An attorney for the organization replied Thursday in a letter to Bridges that the ban doesn't "go far enough" to assure religious rituals are kept out of district-sponsored or sanctioned events.

District officials didn't immediately return requests for comment.