Twenty-four state attorneys general have requested the Supreme Court to intervene in a case involving a high school football coach who was terminated for praying after games.
Coach Joe Kennedy, former assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington, was sent a letter to stop praying at midfield after football games in 2015. He didn’t, and his contract was not renewed, ending his job at the school.
Kennedy sued the school district and lost in the liberal district court. Now conservative leaders are hoping the Supreme Court will intervene on behalf of his religious freedom.
“While the district appreciates Kennedy’s many positive contributions to the BHS football program … 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 school district in a letter to Coach Kennedy.
What risk did he pose? Some young person might see a coach who prays in public? Are we so worried about people being triggered by a private prayer that we outlaw any expressions of faith?
That was the Bremerton School District’s plan. So far, not even a district court has intervened to help.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, one of the leaders behind the letter to the Supreme Court, wrote in defense of Kennedy’s actions.
“The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Coach Joseph Kennedy’s religious discrimination claim against the school district, saying that because Coach Kennedy prayed in view of students, his prayers are considered government speech that the district can censor,” Paxton said in a press release.
“The coalition urges the Supreme Court to review and reverse that decision because of the serious First Amendment concerns it raises. The Ninth Circuit’s conclusion threatens to make everything a public employee does while on the clock into government speech. In turn, that would require public employers to control their employees’ every word in order to avoid liability.
“The Ninth Circuit’s decision curtails the First Amendment liberties of public employees, which will deter individuals from seeking public employment to avoid being forced to give up their constitutionally protected liberties,” the statement continued.
Since 2015, the Supreme Court has now shifted to a new 6-3 conservative majority after former President Donald Trump’s presidency resulted in three new conservative justices added. Now we’ll see if they’ll flex their muscles to get involved in a case that has significant consequences for other coaches and school employees nationwide.
If a coach or school worker cannot pray in any school venue during working hours, this could be used to tell public school teachers they can’t pray before a meal, pray for a sick student or even hold a moment of silence when a student passes away. Our founding fathers would jump out of their graves if they could to defend this coach. It’s time our justices do their job and stand up for the religious freedom of Americans.
