After losing his job for praying on the field, ex-high school football coach brings case to Supreme Court – CBS News April 24, 2022

I saw this today on CBS News – After losing his job for praying on the field, ex-high school football coach brings case to Supreme Court: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-joe-kennedy-high-school-football-coach-prayer/. Longer article.

BY MELISSA QUINN April 24, 2022

Washington — It was after watching the sports film “Facing the Giants” that Joseph Kennedy, then a new coach for the Bremerton High School football team in Washington state, was inspired to pray.

And so, after coaching his first game for the Bremerton Knights in August 2008, Kennedy walked to the 50-yard-line, “on the battlefield,” the retired U.S. Marine says, and took a knee to offer a prayer of gratitude. 

It began with the coach, alone, briefly thanking God after the final whistle for keeping the players safe, for fair play and for spirited competition. But soon enough, the number of players gathering alongside Kennedy after games grew to include a majority of the team, though participation varied. At least one parent said his son felt “compelled to participate” out of fear he would lose out on playing time.

And soon enough, the prayers by Kennedy, himself a graduate of Bremerton High School, evolved into motivational speeches with religious references.

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