Praying for a victory: Does God care about sports?

Published: 2005-07-06

PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- Three times during the Pittsburgh Steelers' National Football League playoff game against the New York Jets last January, players from each team joined hands along the sidelines and prayed while kickers from both sides lined up to attempt game-winning field goals. Does God care enough about football games and individual teams to listen to the prayers by players and fans of the teams for the kicks to go through the uprights or sail wide? Maybe the bigger question is, does God listen to individual prayers under those or any circumstances? Intercessory prayer is not an aspect of Catholic theology that is completely articulated as yet, said Father Charles Bober, pastor of St. Kilian Parish in Mars and a columnist for the Pittsburgh Catholic diocesan newspaper. "There are aspects of this branch of theology that are still being pondered and discussed," Father Bober said in an interview with the newspaper. "What is certain, I believe, is that God is concerned about every human being. We are, after all, made in the image and likeness of God. What affects each human is important to God."

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