High School Football Coach Prays after Games, Threatened with Dismissal

Since 2008, Joe Kennedy, the assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington state, prayed on the 50-yard line after games and has recently been threatened with dismissal.

In yet another battle over prayer in schools, this latest incident occurred just this past Friday, where Kennedy "was told in a letter Friday that continuing that tradition would be grounds for discipline, including possible termination."

So what's the big deal? The Bremerton School District "sees it as a potential violation of law, based on the separation of church and state" and that Kennedy is breaking federal law by praying when players are around.

Here's the thing. According to the Seattle Times, "He [Kennedy] used to invoke God's name during halftime speeches, but backed off as soon as someone mentioned that his audience wasn't necessarily voluntary." Kennedy isn't forcing anyone to listen to him pray, in fact, after this incident, he started going to the 50-yard line after games on his own to pray so as to avoid offending other people. Student's voluntarily joined him. And it wasn't just the religious students who did. "Bremerton team captain Ethan Hacker is an agnostic who has yet to miss the postgame prayer. To him, those few minutes aren't about a Father in Heaven - they're about his brothers on earth."

Kennedy isn't even trying to push the Christian "God" on anyone. "He invites those around him to use any name they want."

I don't see why there needs to be an issue. The game is over. Everything is done. If a person wishes to go somewhere on their own and give thanks to their deity without inviting anyone, there is nothing wrong with that, regardless of what religion or creed they hold to. If they aren't trying to force their beliefs on another person, why can't they pray in a public place? If other people voluntarily choose to join them, is this grounds to terminate the gathering?

I am for the separation of church and state.

I respect those who stand for their beliefs without treading on the rights of others.

I would support Kennedy if he was a Muslim. I've given directions to a Muslim who wanted to know which way was east so they could pray at the appropriate time.

I would support Kennedy if he was a Hindu. I've worked a fast-food cooking job and ensured all my utensils were cleaned of every trace of meat before preparing a family's food.

I would support Kennedy if he was a Pagan. My best friend is Pagan.

What I don't support is a school board that would threaten a coach with termination because his personal religious activity has been joined by other people voluntarily.

Whose rights have been trampled? Why should he be terminated? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.