I am saddened that in a Washington school that a coach is being denied his right to pray. It seems that because he is an employee of a public school that he has to forfeit all of his religious rights because he might "offend" someone.
According to USAHSSToday, this school year a coach by the name of Joe Kennedy is being denied his rights to freedom of religion at Bremerton High School. The coach has been holding a prayer at the end of each game. The prayer is optional and his players do not have to attend. A few weeks ago, however, he was given a warning that he should halt his prayers at the game. At first, Kennedy complied by instead of praying would give a motivational speech at the end of the game.
Many religious lawyer groups picked up on the story and contacted Kennedy and told him that what he was doing was completely constitutional. The coach then decided to resume his prayers at the end of the next game. After the game, he walked out to the 50-yard line and was joined (by choice) by his players and even players on the opposing team.
Kennedy was then put on administrative leave with pay, but it's definitely not fair and many lawyer groups will be taking the case to federal judges. Kennedy after being suspended went to the next football game and was applauded and patted on the back by many people. After the game, Kennedy led a prayer in the stands which many students and supporters took part in. There are many supporters of Joe Kennedy who are all scratching their heads at how the school board is treating this situation.
In my opinion, Kennedy should not have to abandon his religion just because he is an employ of the school. Why because he is a Christian is it not ok for this man to pray? He is not coercing any students to pray with him, and they aren't being forced to be baptized, there is no reason that this coach should have been suspended from his job because he is a Christian. People can say the separation between church and state, but these premises wasn't violated by Kennedy. He was simply praying. Is praying a crime? How long until praying in public will be a crime in America?
In a society where each day we find more and more teachers to be sex offenders and using drugs, this man shouldn't but be punished for loving the Lord and having a prayer that is harmless. If kids want to go to the center of the field that's fantastic! If they don't want to, though, they aren't being made to. There is a big problem with this in America today and I think that it needs to be addressed that people in America are allowed to have a religion. It doesn't matter if they work for the U.S. Postal service, the county school board, or the county clerk's office. It's time that Christians stop being oppressed in these modern times. It's time that America gets back to the motto of "In God We Trust."
