From coach Joseph Kennedy’s perspective, the year long fight over his decision to pray on the 50-yard line following his team’s football games is clear cut: He made a promise that he would offer his thanks on the field – win or lose.
The case before the justices on Monday involves Joseph Kennedy, a former football coach at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. For years, the coach would kneel at the center of the field following games and lead students in prayer. The school district eventually learned what he was doing and asked him to stop.
Mr. Kennedy’s lawyers say the Constitution’s freedom of speech and freedom of religion guarantees allow him to pray on the field, with students free to join. But the school district says Mr. Kennedy’s religious speech interfered with students’ own religious freedom rights, could have the effect of pressuring students to pray, and opened the district itself to lawsuits. The school district says it tried to work out a solution so Mr. Kennedy, who is Christian, could pray privately before or after the game, including on the field after students left, but Mr. Kennedy’s lawsuit followed.
