“But the main reason I did it is to portray to the school district that I think we should either have a policy that we’re not going to have any religious affiliation or public religious practices, or they should say people are going to be allowed to practice their religion publicly whatever their beliefs”.
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The school district is now reviewing Kennedy’s job status after the Christian coach defied school district orders and continued his tradition of praying at midfield following the conclusion of games.
Look out America. Religious freedom is not what it used to be.
Starr said the Satanic Temple of Seattle will provide clergy to lead a post-game “satanic invocation” on the football field for any student or school staff who requests it.
The other day, I posted about how the Satanic Temple chapter in Seattle had offered to deliver a post-game invocation at Bremerton High School, where assistant football coach Joe Kennedy has said he won’t stop praying on the field.
Kennedy initially agreed to the ban, but with subsequent support from religious-freedom organization Texas-based Liberty Institute, he resumed the postgame prayers. “If the school district tried to prevent them from doing that, we’d think the school district was violating their rights as well”.
“However, it must prohibit any conduct by employees that would serve as District endorsement of religion”, he said.
Leavell noted in his letter to the coach that instead of meeting with him, he ignored their directives and prayed following the October. 23 football game. Dys does not know why after seven years Kennedy’s praying has become an issue.
“I made a commitment to pray for them”, Kennedy said in a statement to TheBlaze. “So after the games, I am just thanking God for putting these incredible young men in my life, and for blessing me with this opportunity”. “I’m standing up for what I believe is right”. “All I wanted to do was pray-and now I can’t even pray at all”. The district had not responded as of Wednesday and did not respond to a request for comment except to confirm that it received the request.
“What they are saying is he can not pray by himself, he can not simply take a knee at the 50-yard-line”, Sasser said. “What’s more, the official could open up the district to lawsuits”.
All because Joe Kennedy refused an accommodation to pray on his own time at the school when not around students.
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While he typically goes on the field to pray alone, students and players often voluntarily join him – and that is what has sparked controversy and concerns over the separation of church and state. While voluntary, these activities would pose a constitutional problem, according to superintendent Aaron Leavell. James Lankford, R-Okla., Congress members explained that the school district’s position that the coach’s prayer violates the Establishment Clause is completely wrong.
