Joe Kennedy, Bremerton football coach, made headlines earlier this month when he defied direct orders from the school district not to pray on the field following the games.
Advertisement
“While the district appreciates Kennedy’s many positive contributions to the BHS football program, and therefore regrets the necessity of this action, Kennedy’s conduct poses a genuine risk that the District will be liable for violating the federal and state constitutional rights of students or others”, the statement read. They joined him in his post-game prayer.
“The ball is in their court, the school district’s court”.
In its statement, the district acknowledged Kennedy had not coerced players into praying with him.
Kennedy had received a letter from the school district on October 23, stating that he faced discipline, including the loss of his job, if he performed “demonstrative religious activity” while on the public field as a coach. In fact, the group is advancing a weird argument that as soon as the final whistle sounds, Kennedy is no longer at a school function and no longer a school employee – so he can do whatever he wants even though he is still on the field and wearing his coaching gear.
In an interesting twist, Kennedy’s defiance has attracted the attention of the Seattle chapter of the Satanic Temple – a group that uses the worship of Satan as an allegory for rejection of the supernatural and the embrace of reason.
The Bremerton School District in the People’s Republic of Washington released a four-page statement on Wednesday announcing its action. The district had presented Kennedy with the option of praying inside of the stadium in a place whether none other would see him, but he declined. It was during last September that Leavell ordered Coach Kennedy’s “existing problematic practices do not continue” stating that Kennedy was violating the Constitution of the United States of America with his 15 to 20-second-long prayer. They must either ensure Joe Kennedy does not pray (or if he does, take swift and decisive punitive action) or allow the Satanic Temple to access school grounds as outlined in countless Supreme Court precedents requiring equal footing for all religious beliefs should one be allowed resources, space on taxpayer-funded property, etc.
His lawyers insist he is not leading students in prayer, just praying himself.
“The District can not allow students’ rights to be violated simply because none of them complain”, they said. “Each activity has been voluntary”, Superintendent Aaron Leavell admitted in his letter, but nonetheless claimed the activity is in violation of the school district’s policy.
During the homecoming prayer session, Kennedy was met with an outpouring of support as both his own players and those from the opposing team surrounded him, KIRO 7 reported. She was initially invited by Bremerton’s senior class president Abe Bartlett, who “called it an effort to get the school district to clarify its policy”.
“I am saddened that I will not be there tonight for our team, so very proud of all of them and love them”, Kennedy told ABC News Thursday.
Advertisement
“It is unfortunate this school district is choosing litigation instead of a simple meeting”, said Hiram Sasser, Deputy Chief Counsel for Liberty Institute. The 47 members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus in Washington, D.C., sent a public letter to the school district.
