A former Washington state football coach who lost his job for praying on the field after games is making his case before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. FOX13
Kennedy’s effort to get his job back helped earn him an appearance at aand quickly became a cultural touchstone, pitting public school employees’ religious liberties against what his critics describe as longstanding principles separating church and state and protecting students from religious coercion.
Coach Kennedy kneeling at the fifty-yard line on the Bremerton High School football field. Photo credit: First Liberty InstituteWhile Kennedy insists he never cared whether students participated in the prayers and he never asked them to join him, at least one player reported participating contrary to his own beliefs, for fear of losing playing time.
For Kennedy’s supporters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ holding in the case would force public school employees to drop their religious identities at the schoolhouse door — something they say the Constitution does not require. Kennedy, a former Marine whose day job was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, began coaching football at Bremerton High in 2008. He was new to religion and coaching, and said he was inspired by the movie "Facing the Giants" — about a Christian high school football coach — to give thanks to God "on the battlefield" after each game.
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Praying football coach asking Supreme Court for his job backA former Washington state football coach who lost his job for praying on the field after games is making his case before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday
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