Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow in prayer

Despite the Denver Broncos loss in the NFL playoffs to the New England Patriots, the excitement that developed following the team’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the notoriety of their famous quarterback Tim Tebow lead Zenit to interview Fr. Kevin Lixey, LC, about “Tebow-Mania.”

By Kathleen Naab

ROME, JAN. 13, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The director of the "Church and Sport" section at the Pontifical Council for the Laity admits that the "Tim Tebow phenomenon" has heightened his interest in the NFL playoffs. 

Legionary of Christ Father Kevin Lixey works in the Roman Curia helping the Church make a contribution to the world of sport, with the aim of promoting a sports culture suitable to the integral development of the individual.

ZENIT spoke with Father Lixey about the Denver Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, after Tebow led his team to an overtime win in last Sunday´s playoff game.

Those familiar with the NFL -- and even those who are not -- might have heard of Tebow for more than his unique style as a quarterback. His outward expressions of his Christian faith are being talked about by all sorts of commentators, in the world of American football and beyond. Though certainly not the only athlete to publicly express his faith on the field, Tebow is drawing more attention than usual. We asked Father Lixey what he thinks about that.

ZENIT: Do you see Tim Tebow´s public expression of faith as a positive or negative phenomenon? Certainly it is drawing a lot of attention to Christ, in one form or another ...

Father Lixey: The hype over Tim Tebow is certainly an interesting phenomenon in an ever more secularized world. I consider it something very positive. Even at the college level, while quarterback for the Florida Gators during the 2009 Bowl Championship Series title contest, Tebow wrote "John 3:16" on his eye black. The Palm Beach Post reported that 92 million people Googled the verse following the game ... impressive!

But, it is not the mere public expression of faith -- as Tebow drops a knee to give thanks after a touchdown, or prays with other players who include teammates and opponents after the game -- that is attracting people; it is his entire person.

I had the chance to speak with the offensive coordinator who coached Tim at the Florida Gators. He said he was a very unique player who was spiritually on another stratosphere with respect to the rest of the team. Yet, Tim was respected by his teammates because he was genuine. And this is the point I would like to touch on. As one reporter noted (Chuck Klosterman, Dec. 6, 2011): "This, I think, is what makes Tebow so maddening to those who hate him: He refuses to say anything that would validate the suspicion that he´s fake (or naïve or self-righteous or dumb)."

While Tebow certainly sticks out for these external manifestations of his faith, not to mention his unorthodox playing style as an NFL quarterback, his personal background is also not typical for an NFL quarterback. It is a real "Cinderella" story -- although those who have to tackle Tim would not consider him a Cinderella.

First of all, Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines to American parents who were serving as Baptist missionaries, as his father is a pastor. His mother, while pregnant, suffered a life-threatening infection and was advised to have an abortion but she decided not to, and both Tim and his mother survived a difficult pregnancy. Another unique aspect is that Tim, like his four older siblings, was home-schooled. Thanks to legislation that was passed in Florida in 1996, home-schooled students were allowed to compete in local high school sporting events.

ZENIT: OK, but does prayer really have a place in football? Surely God doesn´t care about who wins the Super Bowl -- or does he?

Father Lixey: Judging from his public statements, Tebow is one of the few and most prominent religious athletes to recognize that God does not care about the score of football games. Tebow considers his missionary and philanthropic work much more important than football, but at the same time, possible, because of it. We all too often equate prayer with only asking good things from God, where prayer is only used "to obtain something" i.e., victory, health, or a miracle. The Catechism reminds us that prayer is also "the raising of one´s mind and heart to God" and that "we must remember God more often that we draw breath."

Certainly there are moments and places more conducive to prayer, but there is no reason that all religious manifestations be entirely banned from the public square. These external manifestations of one´s beliefs are impressive precisely because they are public. Just as Christians once fell to their knees at the sound of the Angelus bell to remember the Incarnation, or just as the cab driver makes the point of getting out of his car to bow down toward Mecca in prayer, I see no reason why a professional football player cannot offer a prayer of thanksgiving or point to heaven instead of doing a lewd victory dance in the end zone.

Nonetheless, these external manifestations can make some people feel uneasy and it is not certain how long this will be "allowed" in the NFL. The Danish Football Federation complained to FIFA for permitting members of the Brazilian national to gather together in prayer after their victory of the 2009 Confederations Cup. FIFA´s president responded by warning that any religious manifestation would not be permitted in the 2010 World Cup.

ZENIT: Along those lines, the Tebow "phenomenon" comes at a time when the U.S. bishops are particularly concerned about religious freedom. Is reaction to Tebow´s public expression of faith a sign that their concern is warranted? Or misplaced? Or is religious freedom on the playing field one thing, and in the public square something else?

Father Lixey: Pope Benedict XVI is also particularly concerned about religious freedom and touched upon this point Monday in his address to members of the diplomatic corps, noting: "In many countries Christians are deprived of fundamental rights and sidelined from public life; in other countries they endure violent attacks against their churches and their homes."

Obviously the Holy Father was not speaking about the FIFA decision to sideline religion. But it does raise the question: "What is the public square today?" Is it literally that quaint square in front of a town hall somewhere in New England, where perhaps it is no longer permissible to display a Nativity scene? Or is it the Internet, a person´s desk at work, or the professional football stadium?

I think many are impressed with Tim Tebow´s courage in professing his faith for he certainly is mocked for it. When he received flack for doing a pro-life ad with "Focus on the Family" that ran during the 2010 Superbowl, he said: "I know some people won´t agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe in." This is all Tim is asking. Whether it is standing up, or taking a knee, for what he believes in, many people do respect this, that he stands up for what he believes. Yet, others become infuriated as they consider Tebow guilty of breaching the line that all are supposed to respect, namely, that which separates the secular from the religious, the holy from the profane, the sacred from the everyday.

ZENIT: As Catholics, what can we learn from this situation -- from Tebow himself, perhaps, and from the reactions he´s causing?

Father Lixey: Blessed John Paul II once reminded a group of top professional soccer players: "The eyes of sports fans throughout the world are fixed on you. Be conscious of your responsibility! It is not only the champion in the stadium but also the whole person who should become a model for millions of young people, who need ´leaders,´ not ´idols.´ They need men who can convey to them the zest for challenge, a sense of discipline, the courage to be honest and the joy of unselfishness."

I believe Tim Tebow is trying to live up to these words of John Paul II and his example can prompt other athletes to be "leaders" and not idols, being a model on and off the field, especially of the corporal works of mercy. As Tim shares in his own words: "When I was a student at the University of Florida, I found great joy in taking time to encourage children suffering from cancer in hospitals or visiting a prison or juvenile detention center, or doing mission work with my family at Uncle Dick´s Orphanage in the Philippines. … Football is so popular (that) it enables an athlete like me to establish a platform for doing good deeds … to take this experience to an even greater level of outreach and influence. … After my professional career, I plan on giving my life full time to this outreach."

That´s not a bad role model for the youth. … It´s not a bad example for us to follow either.