The coach of a Washington state high school football team who prayed at games has been placed on paid administrative leave, effectively ending his tenure as coach.
The district said that football coach Joe Kennedy will be paid for the remainder of his contract, but won’t be allowed to participate in any more activities related to the Bremerton football program.
Kennedy had vocally engaged in pregame and postgame prayers, sometimes joined by students, since 2008. But the practice recently came to the district’s attention, and in the face of criticism from the atheist organization the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), the school district demanded the coach stop.
Bremerton School District officials said in a statement late Wednesday that Kennedy’s leave was necessitated because of his refusal to comply with district directives that he refrain from engaging in public prayers on the football field while on duty as a coach.
The district said he may now only attend games as a member of the public.
He initially agreed to the ban, but then, with support from the Texas-based Liberty Institute, a religious-freedom organization, he resumed the postgame prayers, silently taking a knee for 15 to 20 seconds at midfield after shaking hands with the opposing coaches. His lawyers insist he is not leading students in prayer, just praying himself.
“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. For this reason, Kennedy will not be allowed to further violate the District’s directives,” the statement said.
The controversy has focused attention on Bremerton, across the Puget Sound west of Seattle, and on the role of religion in public schools. On Tuesday, dozens of lawmakers in the Congressional Prayer Caucus sent a letter to the superintendent expressing support for the coach.
Also this week, The Satanic Temple, which has 42 members in its Seattle chapter, announced that its members were open to being invited to a game, and a few students and teachers extended such invitations. The organization doesn’t believe in Satan except as “a potent symbol of rebellion against tyranny,” it says on its website. It’s an atheist group that rejects the notion of supernatural deities and espouses values such as scientific inquiry and compassion, it says.
The group suggested that by allowing the coach to continue praying, the district has created a forum for religious expression open to all groups. It requested permission to perform an invocation on the field after the game. The district had not responded as of Wednesday and did not respond to a request for comment regarding the group.
On Wednesday night, Kennedy’s lawyer, Hiram Sasser, called the paid leave a hostile employment action.
“It’s surprising and shocking,” Sasser said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
And they invite the Satanic group to the football games. The Satanic group is probably lying about being atheist. Can anyone believe the master of lies?
Do you people know what you are doing? You are doing things against GOD’S WILL! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?? ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF SATAN???
If he was a Muslim the authorities at the school would issue prayer rugs!!
Obama country!
After this action by this school district, I can see why this country is going to HELL and soon will be taken over by communists.
John;
I’d have to say their mission is pretty much accomplished!
why don’t they just shut down the school-Immediately
Good coach poor school program good luck to coach
‘!
I pity America. It has mostly spiritually blind people for rulers. It has been bad before now. It is worse under Obama. They say freedom they stand for, but why would one not pray if he wants to? Why do so-called atheists have so much influence in America? Why is this place sinking? It is sinking because it is stinking with porno, homosexuality, drug abuse, abortion, and unbridled avarice in the name of private enterprise.
America, America, where is thy strength. It is taken away from you because you have abandoned your source – God! And until you repent of your hypocrisy and wealth worship, you will stay down until Islamists undo you.
It is time for students to revolt. Not another game to be played until their coach is reinstated.
The school administrators need to given a course in the Constitution, correctly shown and
not reworded as these atheists or “satanists” do all the time. This has been a practice for
may years until administrations decided to support anti-Christian protesters and became one
and the same as all anti-Americans.
L.H.
AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS
I agree! If my child was going there, I would move them to a Christian school NOW!! Isn’t it interesting how so many things have changed since Obama has been our Satan president!!
Yet the courts force non-govt entities, companies, and even a prison so muslims can practice their religion! e.g.– the truck drivers, the burka lady at A-Fitch and the bearded muslim in a prison. Next they might force all of us to pray 5 times a day like in Islamic countries. And the so called separation clause does not exist. What exists in the Constitution is the govt cannot establish a state religion. Meaning of course that the govt can’t force religion activities on anyone. Nor can they tax you and give the money to their fav WH relgion, islam or their least fav Rome. etc..
VOTE 4 TRUMP SO WE WILL HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AGAIN. THIS IS A DISGRACE TO THE USA
America must have GOD back in our country NOW!!
Merril;
America needs to bless God before God can bless America !
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT
As a former Young Life leader in Bremerton,Wn. Its a sad day when our constitution regarded freedom of
Religion to be practiced, a coach is being fired for having prayer. BY such a group as Satanic Group,
that can carry that kind of power. Many are asking why
so much tragedy is happening, take a look and see.
Formerly OF Bremerton and loved it there. Rex King
I am watching Paul Ryan being sworn in as the new Speaker of the House. I have never heard the quote “Under God” spoken so many times as during this Congress procession!! They speak it every time they have a Session, as they Pledge the Flag – which states “Under God” right in the Pledge.
My point being this poor Coach cannot pray to GOD with his team? This is appalling and disgusting in MY OPINION!!
I AGREE WITH YOUR OPINION
your opinion is correct, but until the Christian stands up and rebuke the enemy ( satanic influence) the “born again” Christian with be on the sideline. We had better confront our enemy, and now, or expect to lose.
Americans must have another partition where prayer must be allowed in all schools in America and the Pledge of Allegiance!
Hang the bastard. Good luck
Trump ! Vote
For
Trump!!
Ummm??!! Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion. Are we not allowed to practice these rights in public? (Prayer is simply speech (speaking) to God.) Is taking a knee illegal? I believe that about 84% of Americans consider themselves Christians. STAND UP AND SPEAK UP CHRISTIANS.
ON THE AOL “COMMENTS” IF YOU FAVOR DONALD TRUMP THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE POSTS TO APPEAR. TALK ABOUT ANOTHER DISGRACE.
Now you know why Tim Tebow couldn’t land a job in the NFL !
JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH & THE LIGHT. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN EXCEPT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. PERIOD. Everyone has a chance to ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
ONLY, ONLY, ONLY. . Its personal & private between you & Jesus Christ. ITS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND HIM ONLY, GROUP PRAYING IS STILL PERSONAL TO EACH ONE ACKNOWLEGING JESUS IN HIS OWN WAY.
So get over it all you unbelivers in Jesus Christ.
AMEN!!
It would be great if the whole football team quit, until the Coach was back with his team. The school mekes good money from the school sports.
“Separation of church and state” is NOT a valid belief. The Constitution says that government cannot establish a state religion, and this has not, and is not, being done. But a number one problem right now is the atheist organization—the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF)—and it needs to be brought to its knees instead of everyone, including the Bremerton officials, who are kowtowing to it. Let’s FIGHT BACK!!!
This same anti-christ spirit was already in the world when the New Testament was written, but it has escalated a 1000 times over since then. The scripture is full of warnings about being seduced by it. We call our selves a Christian nation, but where is the fruit. CHRISTIAN means to be CHRIST like. We don’t look very Christ-like by letting all this go on among us. We don’t need another sermon, we need a real encounter with the creator. I promise you when real persecution hits our country, there will be a lot of name brand Christians (in name only, no relationship) leave the faith. Read the Book, it’s all in there. America, it’s time to Bless God, and seek His face. We have looked for His Hand way too long. To get different results, we gotta do something different. STAND UP FOR TRUTH AND WHAT IS RIGHT ACCORDING TO GODS WORD, CAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT!!!!
Although the Constitution allows such activity as public prayer, schools tend to deny officials and students their rights because there isn’t enough money to fight the charges in court. This could all be remedied, if someone with great wealth were to create and fund an organization that will fight these battles for the schools…….. Any Takers…………….????
The football players need to go on strike for their coach, there is nothing wrong with a person praying–except in OSLIMALAND!! OSLIMA wants everyone to be a carpet crawler not Christian! These school administrators need to not be so “Politically Correct” and use their brains for more than a hat rack!!!
The thing is I am not a very religious man, but I stand for our “CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS”! Our public officials are a bunch of willy nilly pansies who should not be in charge of a “HOT DOG STAND”!!
I thought in this country the majority ruled. Since, when does the minority have the right to start telling us what we can and can not do? This is SHAMEFUL!
The ones aligned AGAINST faith in Jesus Christ will eventually discover, TOO LATE FOR THEM, that we Christians were the ones who knew the TRUTH! Eternity is a
I ask you, ” Where are The Churches “? I see no stand by any. The Catholics are the biggest hypocrites. 50 million of them put Obozo in twice. They march in pro life parades and hold office in the Nazi party, just like they did in Germany.
THE FOOTBALL SHOULD END THERE SEASON IN RESPECT FOR THER COACH.
ETERNITY IS A LONG TIME! BUT TOO LATE FOR THE NON BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST! How about checking your options while you still can. God loves you too…….yes even you who doubt. Just ask Him.
In today’s sick society MINORITY rules and the MAJORITY sit on the sidelines all dumbfounded ?
Other religions can “demonstrate” in public, block traffic, etc,, businesses are required to provide “prayer rooms” and extra breaks so non Christians can follow their faith, employment dress codes are illegal for non Christians, and this coach gets fired for a silent prayer in public. Obama told the world in 2008 that he would CHANGE AMERICA and he did. CHRISTIANITY IS NOW ILLEGAL IN A CHRISTIAN NATION.
Christians need to step up and tell all people of the USA ,We are a Christian nation and we must live by the founding fathers constitution. The right to be free and worship and pray anytime any place. If people do not like are laws then they can go back to there country……..
Freedoms taken away by Obama. Saw Trump at the Nugget in Nevada and there was a prayer and the pledge of allegiance before Trump came on the stage. Many were also wearing patriotic apparel. Not gang colors and symbols like some schools are saying. Thank you Trump. Freedom is being restored. Vote Trump 2016 for your freedom.
Once again we see those opposed to Christianity getting to impose their religious views on us. The Freedom From Religion folks will not be happy as long as anyone has religious freedom in our nation. America was founded by Christians, not satanists nor atheists. It’s odd that the satanists are dishonest about their name since they say they are actually atheists.
That satanists and atheists once again show they have nothing positive to offer. They are about destroying the rights of the people and forcing their beliefs on others. They are just like Satan–they have nothing positive to offer and their only goal is to destroy. Perhaps they should team up with ISIS since they all share similar beliefs and are all going to spend eternity in the same place.
@ Justin Wachin
Thank you. I’m going to agree with you on this fully.
Moracle says
October 29, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Although the Constitution allows such activity as public prayer, schools tend to deny officials and students their rights because there isn’t enough money to fight the charges in court. This could all be remedied, if someone with great wealth were to create and fund an organization that will fight these battles for the schools…….. Any Takers…………….????
Reply
We need
Trump at the head of the table !
He’s a tiger we need him there !
The coach, Joe Kennedy, was fired, fair and square, for failing to follow orders. He needs no pity since that was their choice. In this state, as an employee, you are required by law to follow the law as codified (which the bible is NOT), follow orders given or you go home. In this case, he ended up going home after being FIRED for insubordination. I have employees and if they don’t follow the law and/or orders given, they’re gone, instantly.
The laws and the case law for over 200 years has settled this long, long ago. They still don’t get it.
Give a man a rifle, he will fight and kill to get home.
Give that same man a bible, he will fight and kill to the death.