“A lot of ink is being spilled on Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow,” began a recent editorial in The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

“As a member of the Denver Broncos, he occasionally takes a knee in prayer — a phenomenon now known, and sometimes spoofed, as ‘Tebowing,’” the editorial stated. “He started a recent postgame news conference by thanking ‘my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.’ The son of former missionaries, he works with a foundation that bears his name to help sick and orphaned children around the world. That foundation is now teaming up with another organization to build a children’s hospital in the Philippines. …

“Tebow is scrutinized because, to some, his public displays of faith are irksome, bothersome, too ‘in your face.’ These critics often have no problem with his beliefs, they just wish he would keep them private and not wear them on his sleeve to the extent he does.

“Those critics should be more concerned, however, about the antics of others that are as public but certainly not worthy of emulation. …

“With Tebow you get something genuine — a role model. What you see on the outside is what’s on the inside, particularly when it comes to his spiritual life. …

“Tebow had this to say: ‘That’s the thing about my faith: It’s not just something that happens when you’re at church or happens when you’re praying or reading the Scripture. It’s a part of who you are, as a person, as a player, in your life and everything. And it should be who you are because you’re not just a Christian or a believer at church. That’s who you are everywhere, and it shouldn’t matter what situation or what setting you are in. Hopefully, you’re the same guy everywhere.’”