SCOTUS rules on Washington high school coach who was fired for prayers

Joe Kennedy, a high school football coach in Washington state who was fired by the school district over post-game prayers was reinstated to his old job by March 2023, as ruled by the court documents filed on Tuesday.

Kennedy coached at Bremerton High School and was put on leave in 2015 for reciting prayers to the Lord at the 50-yard-line following the conclusion of games.

Initially, the coach prayed by himself, but eventually he was joined in prayer by students from his and the opposing teams.

Court documents state that this evolved into motivational speeches that also included religious themes.

After an opposing coach, who likely lost to Kennedy, brought it to the principal's attention and Kennedy was told by the school district to desist, which he did for a while, and then notified the school that he would resume praying as before. 

The story grew in the media, who hates religion in general, and when Kennedy announced that he was going back to praying on the field, it raised concerns for is safety. But when he did pray after a game, many people would rush onto the gridiron in support.

The district offered to allow Kennedy to pray in other locations before and after games, or for him to pray on the 50-yard line after everyone else had left the premises, but he refused, insisting that he would continue his regular practice. After continuing the prayers at two more games, the school district placed Kennedy on leave. As far as he was concerned, they could go to hell.

The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court this past June and ruled in favor of Kennedy getting his old job back. Something about freedom of speech and an old government document that had stuff about inalienable rights or something along those lines. 

Yes, Kennedy's prayers on the field were protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Per the court documents filed Tuesday, Kennedy must be reinstated to his previous position as assistant coach of the Bremerton High School football team on or before the "ides of March" [aka March 15] 2023. The Bremerton School District cannot retaliate against Kennedy for "conduct that complies with the terms of the Court’s Order," the court documents say.

The district also cannot interfere with or prohibit Kennedy from offering a prayer consistent with the Supreme Court’s opinion, so yes indeed, they can go to hell.

* * *

Hey folks, consider subscribing to Brain Flushings and please check out the ads on these pages. It costs nothing to subscribe and it's worth every penny. And remember, every time you click on an ad, you help in the fight against Critical Race Theory, ignorance, The New York Times, and bovine flatulence. You also help me. Thanks.

* * *

Kennedy is also entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs, but the district has said those fees will ultimately be decided by the U.S. District Court after an "exacting process.

Kennedy and the district will file a joint submission on Nov. 8 detailing either side’s proposed wording on the disputed issues and relief issued to Kennedy.

Tweet

SCOTUS rules in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case re: fired football coach

In a 6-3 decision by the SCOTUS, a major victory for religious liberty was delivered in the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which involves a high school football coach who was fired for praying on the football field at the 50 yard line after games were completed.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Donald Trump appointee, authored the decision.

The Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal; the Constitution neither mandates nor permits the government to suppress such religious expression.

Respect for religious expressions is indispensable to life in a free and diverse Republic. Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a personal religious observance, based on a mistaken view that it has a duty to suppress religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech. The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination. Mr. Kennedy is entitled to summary judgment on his religious exercise and free speech claims.

Joe Kennedy worked at Bremerton School District in Washington as a junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach between 2008 to 2015.

His post-game praying was initially done alone, but eventually, other students began joining him of their own free will. This soon angered the secular and atheist community because they find it difficult to tolerate people with different beliefs [see also the SCOTUS decision on Roe v. Wade and the concomitant mostly peaceful riots that ensued, including the torching of a police officer with a homemade flame thrower]. School officials soon got involved and Kennedy was fired.

Religious leaders shared thoughts with the media after the high court released its ruling in the case on Monday morning. [H/T Fox News Digital]

In a message on Monday morning, Rebecca Hatfield, president of 2nd Vote, a faith-based nonprofit in Nashville, TN, said, "The Supreme Court ruling in favor of Coach Kennedy's rights to pray and exercise his right to free speech is a huge victory for our country at a time when religious liberties and free speech have been greatly under attack."

She added, "2nd Vote would like to thank the Supreme Court for correctly interpreting the First Amendment and correcting this injustice to Coach Kennedy. We rejoice whenever liberty reigns in our land."

Meanwhile atheist heads exploded and if they don't change their ways, they can go to hell. 

* * *

 Consider subscribing to Brain Flushings and please check out the ads on these pages. It costs nothing to subscribe and it's worth every penny. And remember, every time you click on an ad, you help in the fight against Communism, ignorance, The New York Times, and the heebie-jeebies.

* * *

Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES) in Charlotte, NC said, "The Supreme Court ruling in the Coach Joe Kennedy case is a breath of fresh air for both religious freedom and the concept of free speech, both of which are firmly imbedded in our Constitution."

He also said, "It has always been a feckless argument to say that someone might be offended or influenced by religious expression. In the real world, speech is always intended to influence in some manner; therefore, the right to free speech ought to apply to all kinds of speech, not just to that which a majority thinks it should be confined."

Tell that to the Left.

Tweet