NFL to Churches: Parties May Break Law

Places are prohibited from charging admission to watch the Super Bowl, and the law prevents them from showing the game on a TV bigger than 55 inches.

The idea is to honor the NFL's contract with networks that provide free broadcasts of the game and to protect the Super Bowl trademark, Aiello said.

Major League Baseball and the NCAA have similar policies.

Aiello said the NFL has had to inform theaters, schools, museums, casinos and hotels about these limits. Officials also have talked to hundreds of churches in the past.

"They say 'Thanks' and they have their Super Bowl viewing parties within the rules," he said.

Others have spiked their plans.

In suburban Houston, members of the Cypress United Methodist Church decided Thursday to cancel their Super Bowl party after being told the gathering would violate the league's copyright.

The church planned to charge a small admission fee to raise money for its youth mission activities.

"We felt like we were offering a wholesome environment for the youth," church administrator Quinn Edmondson said. "We were, frankly, pretty shocked."

In Indianapolis, Fall Creek Baptist Church Pastor John Newland said he's received about 200 e-mails since The Indianapolis Star first reported about the NFL's letter. Some told him to hold the party anyway and dare the league to sue him.

"We think the law is wrong, and it discriminates against people of faith while opening up an exception to certain businesses who stand to make millions," he said.

Even so, he has no intention of breaking the law. Instead, he wants to tell people about it to motivate change.

"We have to teach our kids that just because you don't like a law, that doesn't mean you have to break a law."

Calvary Temple's Kaler also preaches respect.

"If that's the way it is, that's the way it is," he said. "I think being a church and a Christian organization, you've got to do what's right."

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Associated Press writer Joe Stinebaker in Houston contributed to this story.