Praying football coach placed on paid leave by district

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.

The Bremerton Knights face a crucial test against the Sequim Wolves Thursday night in a game that will determine which of the two teams will advance to the playoffs.

The Religious Institute, a Texas-based “multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education, and justice in faith communities and society”, sees it differently. The letter reads, “Unless and until you are advised otherwise, you may not participate, in any capacity, in BHS [Bremerton High School] football program activities”.

Kennedy has been praying on the field since 2008; it was that year that he saw the Christian movie “Facing the Giants” and was inspired “to try and make a difference in … kids’ lives”.

Kennedy apparently did stop the team prayers after games, but still insisted on praying at the 50-yard-line himself, even though the district offered him any number of private locations to do so, including the press box at the field.

“We’re prepared to take the necessary legal actions to defend Coach Kennedy’s religious freedom”, Berry said.

Although Kennedy’s prayers consisted of him kneeling on the 50-yard line to pray with a group of willing students gathered around him, the school district felt as though such prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution.

Bremerton High School assistant coach Joe Kennedy, whose suspension Wednesday came a day before the school’s final regular game of the season, can not resume his job until he agrees not to pray while on duty as a coach, the Bremerton School District said in a letter posted online.

Kennedy has vocally engaged in pregame and postgame prayers, sometimes joined by students, since 2008.

The letter explained that the Establishment Clause does not mean that school officials need to “proactively scrub all references of religion from the public square”.

In light of this action taken by the Bremerton School District, we withdraw all requests to perform invocations on school property or school events. District says the prayers opened the district up to potential lawsuits. Senior class president Abe Bartlett said Wednesday that he was one of a few students who invited the Satanic Temple of Seattle, saying it was an effort to get the school district to clarify its policy. He says the same prayer as always: “Lord, I thank you for these kids and the blessing you’ve given me with them”. I said I would meet them and didn’t have a problem with them.

Late on October 28, Superintendent Leavell responded with a letter to Coach Kennedy, informing him that the district was suspending the coach. It’s a debate that has played out at schools across the nation and, as in other instances, it has captured national attention, capped this week by a letter of support signed by 47 members of Congress. Prior to the ruling, he said: “Whatever happens happens, you know. I’m like, God, I hope those aren’t kids”, Kennedy told CNN affiliate KIRO of Seattle and other media outlets.