Kennedy said no one actually has complained.
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Joe Kennedy has joined forces with the Liberty Institute, with the conservative law firm firing off a letter this week to officials at Bremerton High School that calls it unconstitutional for the district to order Kennedy to stop praying after games. It noted that Kennedy not only prays at the conclusion of each game, but also prays in the locker room with students and staff.
It was overpowering. The coach cried as he spoke to reporters.
“As long as the kids understand that he’s doing that in his individual and private capacity, which is what he’s doing, it’s perfectly constitutional and not only that, it’s a violation of the constitution to tell him he’s not allowed to pray”, Sasser said. “And … if this is the last time I step on the field with these guys …” An email from the school district included statements from Thursday’s school board meeting. Even the opposing team members joined in the after prayer, making Ethan Hacker’s words all the more poignant. The coach originally said he would follow the rules. “What we are doing is what every state-funded agency and school district must do: abide by the laws that govern us”.
“[The prayers] occur immediately following completion of the football game, when students are still on the football field, in uniform, under the stadium lights, with the audience still in attendance and while Mr. Kennedy is still in his district-issued and district-logoed attire”, the district’s letter to Liberty Institute says. They added, “the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by individuals acting privately, as is the case with Coach Kennedy”.
When the next football game ended and the players had cleared the field, Coach Kennedy walked alone to the fifty-yard line and prayed a short prayer, thanking God for his players, their safety, and their spirited competition.
“Lord, I thank you for these kids and the blessing you’ve given me with them”. We believe that he shouldn’t lose his job for what he practices at the end of the game.
Borden v. School District of the Township of East Brunswick: Borden deals with school football coaches in so much that it forbids coaches from participating in student-led prayer on school grounds.
Kennedy, after receiving Leavell’s letter, abided by the prayer ban until he could learn more about his standing for a legal challenge.
He said he never meant to become part of the controversy surrounding his postgame prayers, but had to stand up for his right to practice his faith when challenged by the school district.
“We learned that you have a practice, at most games, of providing an inspirational talk at midfield following the completion of the game”, Aaron Leavell, Superintendent at Bremerton School District wrote in the letter back in September.
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“Whatever happens happens, you know. I responded, ‘It’s a free country, you can do whatever you want to do'”.
