On Sunday, churches around the country will hold a Super Bowl watch party complete with big-screen TVs, game tables and food.
Churches have been holding Super Bowl parties for years, but this year, the tie-in is even stronger. The coaches of both Super Bowl teams, Tony Dungy of the Colts and Lovie Smith of the Bears, are known for openly professing their Christian faith. Both gave credit to God for their teams' appearance in today's big game.
Many churches will be using Super Bowl half-time to show an inspirational video, Power to Win, featuring Dungy.
But the NFL says that some of the church parties are going too far. Last week, league attorneys sent a letter to an Indianapolis church saying that public events using large-screen TVs violate the NFL's copyright.
The NFL says the law is clear: It bans public exhibitions of its games on TVs or screens that are bigger than 55 inches.
That letter led many pastors around the country to cancel their Super Bowl parties.
But not Ed Young, senior pastor of Fellowship Church in Dallas, which also has a ministry in Miami. Both locations have big Super Bowl parties planned, and are even giving away tickets to the game.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDAzMjM2NDYzMDEyMzc1Njk5NjAxNzY3OQ001))
