A Wisconsin-based nonprofit that serves as a separation of church and state watchdog is crediting itself for having a biblical verse painted on the side of a dugout removed by the Mobile County School System.

In a news release Wednesday, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) confirmed that the school system — the largest public school system in Alabama — painted over what it calls a “divisive religious display” on the side of a dugout at the Theodore High School baseball field.

The verse read, “Whatever you do, do it for the Glory of GOD. 1 Corinthians 10:31.”

“To protect students’ First Amendment rights, the district must remove this religious display from its baseball field immediately, as well as other religious displays it becomes aware of it in its schools,” said FFRF staff attorney Chris Line said to the school system’s legal representative.

According to the group, the biblical verse violates the First Amendment by “proselytizing school students and creating the appearance that the district prefers religion over non-religion and Christianity over all other faiths.” The FFRF said it became aware of the painting by a “concerned Mobile County Public Schools community member.”

“Public schools exist to educate, not indoctrinate into religion,” said FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The district made the correct decision to respect the rights of all students — not just Christians.”

Johnny Hatcher, a school board commissioner who represents Theodore, said if it was up to him, he would have left the painting alone.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it, but … the school system said they had to do it because there was a Bible verse on there,” Hatcher said.

A school spokeswoman did not response to a request for comment.

“I think all of the children wanted it there,” Hatcher said. “But other people, for whatever reason, the (biblical verse) was in broad view (of people) who drove by. To me, it’s petty that someone would want to take that down.”

He added, “I’m of the opinion we need more religion in schools than taking it out especially after yesterday.”

Hatcher was referring to a shooting that occurred around noon Tuesday inside LeFlore High School that injured two students, and resulted in a 16-year-old girl being charged as an adult on an assortment of felony offenses.

The FFRF has honed in on Alabama of late, clashing with state leaders over a variety of issues that they believe cross acceptable boundaries on religious displays.

In December, the FFRF wrote a letter to Etowah County Schools urging them to stop soliciting religious organizations “to proselytize and attempt to convert its students in exchange for donations” after the school district asked local churches to supply water and granola bars to middle- and high-school wrestlers. In exchange, the churches were allowed to share a 15-minute “devotional” with the students.

That incident drew the ire of Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, who called out the organization from trying to “push faith out of our lives and the lives of our children.” The FFRR then responded that Reed was breaching his oath to the U.S. Constitution, “which protects students from religious indoctrination by their public schools.”

The FFRF, in September, called an “United Auburn” event on Sept. 12, as “unconstitutional” after it was reported that several prominent Auburn figures including head football coach Hugh Freeze led baptisms of football players at a pond in Ag Heritage Park.

Jeremy Napier, the men’s basketball team’s chaplain, reportedly baptized at least 20 students.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey posted a statement in support of the event that the FFRF said was “inappropriate and unconstitutional” because Auburn is a public university and not a religious one.

Also in September, the FFRF sent a letter to Snead State Community College President Joe Whitmore raising concerns about staff members claiming they were required to participate in Christian prayer before meals and staff events. The organization also complained about Whitmore, who oversees the community college in Boaz, presents a “guiding Bible verse” each year in official communications.