Good News For Churches Concerning the NFL

[StillStanding]

POSTED 5:38 p.m. EST, February 21, 2008

NFL CHANGES CHURCH POLICY

Last February, there were media reports of an Indianapolis church that wasn't allowed to broadcast Super Bowl XLI between the Colts and the Bears on a television with a screen larger than 55 inches. In response, the NFL explained its position and stuck to its guns. The story died before the opening kickoff of the NFL title game in Miami.

What a difference a year makes.

The story surfaced again prior to Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and the Pats. This time around, however, the media exposure and, apparently, the ensuing pressure from Congress caused the league to cave.

In a letter to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Commissioner Roger Goodell promised to allow "live showings -- regardless of screen size -- of the Super Bowl" by religious organizations.

The move is the most concrete evidence to date of the apparent discomfort that the league currently is feeling in the face of arguably unprecedented interest by Congress in its activities. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) has been stirring up trouble over Spygate, and Senator Patrck Leahy (D-Vt.) authorized last week the expenditure of funds by the Senate Judiciary Committee for further investigation of the manner in which the league handled materials surrendered by the Patriots in September 2007, and regarding recent allegations of cheating at Super Bowl XXXVI.