Catholic Bishops Support Praying Football Coach in Supreme Court Case

Catholic News Agency ^ | 3/3/22 | Katie Yoder

[marshmallow]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted an amicus brief Wednesday in support of Joseph Kennedy, a Christian who lost his job as a high school football coach for refusing to stop praying at the 50-yard line after games.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, sometime in April.

Kennedy's case dates back to 2015 when Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington, placed him on administrative leave It did not renew his contract for the following season.

Kennedy filed suit to vindicate his right “to act in accordance with his sincerely held religious beliefs by offering a brief, private prayer of thanksgiving at the conclusion of BHS football games," according to his brief.

Becket, a law firm dedicated to religious liberty, filed the new brief on the USCCB’s behalf. It criticized school officials for saying Kennedy’s actions violated the U.S. Constitution.

“The Constitution exists to protect public expressions of faith, not to stop Americans from praying in public,” Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket, stressed in a press release on March 2. “The idea that high school football players can handle a tough game, but not the sight of someone kneeling in prayer at the end of the night, is ridiculous.”

[MDLION]

“The idea that high school football players can handle a tough game, but not the sight of someone kneeling in prayer at the end of the night, is ridiculous.”

The kids can handle it. It’s the neurotic guilty adults who can’t.

“The fool says in his heart there is no God; such are corrupt, they do evil things.” - Psalm 14:1

“Everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light lest his actions be exposed as evil” -John 3:20