BREMERTON, WA- A Washington high school football coach says he will be continuing his post-game prayer, despite a request from the school to stop. “But nobody’s being forced to stay out there, nobody’s being forced sit out there and listen to him pray”.
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Earlier this month, Kennedy said he’d continue to defy the school district because he made an “agreement” with God.
While he ended pre-game locker room prayers since player attendance is mandatory at the time, Kennedy made it known Wednesday of his intention to pray on the field after the game despite the looming legal threat, KIRO-TV reported.
“I’m going to do what I’ve always done and I will do my prayer”, he said. The Kitsap Sun reports players from the other team and others joined him.
According to the Seattle Times, Kennedy, 46, has never asked anyone else to participate in the postgame prayer.
Leavell said in a statement before the game that staff must refrain from religious expression while on duty.
“It’s a violation of the First Amendment and other federal laws to prohibit Coach Joe from going out onto the 50-yard line and praying after the game”, a representative for the group told the station. “What we are doing is what every state-funded agency and school district must do: abide by the laws that govern us”.
Kennedy said afterward that the prayer was a version of the basic prayer he’s said for years: “Lord, I thank you for these kids and the blessing you’ve given me with them”. This week, he decided he had to do what he believed was right.
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Superintendent Aaron Leavell, school board President Dave Rubie and another administrator were at the game.
