Praying favorites? Religious leaders say it's OK to pray for your team
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A black-and-gold rosary hangs on one of the angel figurines in the showcase at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Store in Bloomfield. -
Sharon Oldaker, co-owner of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Store in Bloomfield, works on a black-and-gold rosary.
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From the folded hands of the angels in the window of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Store dangle rosaries in the liturgical colors of black and gold.
"Yes, the Steelers rosaries," said Sister Madalyn Schleifer, who can't keep them in the Bloomfield shop. "We're making them as fast as our little fingers can go."
She says that the $3 beads can be used to pray for the city, but they've been dubbed Steelers rosaries since store co-owner Sharon Oldaker made the first one years ago for a priest.
The rosaries are but one manifestation of quasi-religious devotion to the Steelers. There's been theological trash talk between monasteries as Terrible Towels are waved in church and Hindus chant prayers for a Steelers victory. But there are theological disputes over whether it's acceptable to pray for a win.
Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh was bishop of Green Bay 2003-07. But the Ambridge native was true to his roots. When the Steelers played the Packers there in 2005, he threw a black-and-gold party. He has given his blessing to pray for a Steelers win, and believes it's praying fair to ask for the Packers' kicker to miss.
"It's not like praying that the quarterback breaks his leg or something," he said.
"You can't pray in a way that wishes harm to somebody. But praying for a guy to miss? That's a whole different story. The focus of prayer can be anything as long as it doesn't go against the mind and heart of God."
But he doesn't believe that God ever plays favorites.
"We are all, each of us, the apple of his eye," Bishop Zubik said. "When you start getting into questions such as whether the Saints might have been his favorites [last year] because of the tragedy in New Orleans, I'd be cautious. That begins to get into predestination, where you take out free will and human effort. It's a matter of all the members of the team using gifts and talents to win. God wants us to use our gifts to the best of our ability. That brings him joy."
First Published February 6, 2011 12:29 am
