How do you solve a problem like high school assistant football coach Joe Kennedy? Kennedy found himself under investigation by the Bremerton School District in Washington because of his nine-year ritual of praying on the 50-yard-line after each game, win or lose. District policy states that “school staff shall neither encourage nor discourage” students from praying, though players, cheerleaders and fans often joined him.
Fortunately, Kennedy wasn’t fired, but on the condition that his post-game prayer become a post-game speech free of any religious overtones. Unfortunately, things have changed since last month, and word is that Kennedy has been placed on paid administrative leave.
The controversy over Bremerton's 'praying coach' could affect other schools. @AlexRozierK5 reports:https://t.co/dJKHObdqN9
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) October 29, 2015
Praying Bremerton HS coach placed on leave. From the district: "Kennedy will not be allowed to further violate the District’s directives."
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) October 29, 2015
@drewmikkelsenk5 read the tweet aloud while thinking "we live in a free country"
— smash TAMU (@LSUPETERadams) October 29, 2015
@LSUPETERadams Different rules for public employees (says the district/Supreme Court)
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) October 29, 2015
@drewmikkelsenk5 just sad. I grew up in a different America.
— smash TAMU (@LSUPETERadams) October 29, 2015
The school district yesterday released a four-page Q&A addressing the legal aspects of Kennedy’s suspension, which reads in part:
The prayer sessions with students clearly violated the Establishment Clause. The District cannot allow students’ rights to be violated simply because none of them complain. Embedded in the federal court precedent discussed above is the reasonable expectation that students will feel coerced to go along with religious activity that is led or endorsed by their teachers and coaches. It is very likely that over the years, players have joined in these activities because to do otherwise would mean potentially alienating themselves from their team, and possibly their coaches.
https://twitter.com/erinetzkorn/status/659559603647217664
@drewmikkelsenk5 @HeatherGrafK5
This story makes me sad that a school would want to abolish something so positive. #GodBlessAmerica— ☕️ deanna.k ☕️ (@deanna_k) October 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/danakg/status/659591322546794496
@drewmikkelsenk5 @KING5Seattle is he forcing the team to pray?
— KS930 (@kyles0115) October 29, 2015
@drewmikkelsenk5 @KING5Seattle a player should have done the praying…that would solve it. Can't tell the players they can't pray
— Heather Stueckle (@dawgmomof2) October 29, 2015
@drewmikkelsenk5 @KING5Seattle So they waited until the furor wears off and hope people forget about it. What a joke.
— Matt B. (@matthewalan8) October 29, 2015
Not everyone has forgotten.
Group from The Satanic Temple of Seattle still plans to attend tonight's Bremerton HS football game. More here: pic.twitter.com/2BZzEAi8WG
— Heather Graf (@ABC7HeatherGraf) October 29, 2015
The Satanic Temple’s most recent Facebook post says that “since the school has stopped the coach from praying on the field, we no longer intend to hold our Satanic invocation tonight at the game.” Plus, it’s quite a haul from Seattle.
* * *
The satanists made it! Hooray?
Satanic Temple of Seattle arrives at Bremerton FB game @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/LkQkN0WLPn
— AMY CLANCY (@ClancyKIRO7) October 30, 2015
Is the woman with the goat horns a satanist or a Rams fan at the wrong game?
.@LilithStarr of Satanic Temple of Seattle applauds district for suspending praying coach Kennedy @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/SdFz1rNhUw
— AMY CLANCY (@ClancyKIRO7) October 30, 2015
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