Free Republic

High school football coach Joe Kennedy was suspended Wednesday for praying after games at the 50-yard line. It’s like straight out of a movie. High school football coach Joe Kennedy, inspired by the Christian faith-based film “Facing the Giants,” walks to the 50-yard line after games to thank God for the players he has the opportunity to coach. As of Wednesday, Kennedy has been suspended and is no longer able to participate in football program activities because of his post-game prayers. A letter sent to Kennedy by the school district informed the coach that he has been placed on paid...

An investigation has been opened into the religious practices of a popular football coach in Washington. Joe Kennedy is the junior varsity coach and assistant coach of Bremerton’s varsity football team. Recently, he says he was told that he would be fired if he continued to lead his players in prayer on the 50-yard line following football games. Sophomore quarterback Savante Perrigo says the prayers are voluntary and even remembers a time when one player told the coach he didn’t believe in God. “He didn’t get punished for it. He just sat out and just waited for the rest of...

Coach Joe Kennedy has been booted from the locker room at Bremerton High School in Washington State, Fox News has learned exclusively. Superintendent Aaron Leavell placed the longtime coach on administrative leave after he refused to stop his post-game prayers.“Effective immediately, pending further District review of your conduct, you are placed on paid administrative leave from your position as an assistant coach with the Bremerton High School football program,” Level wrote to the coach in an Oct. 28th letter. “You may not participate, in any capacity, in BHS football program activities.”

A group of robe-wearing, incense-spreading, self-described Seattle Satanists plans to attend a Washington state high school football game on Thursday, in the latest turn of a controversy over a Christian coach’s postgame prayers. Bremerton High School senior class President Abe Bartlett said Wednesday that he was one of a few students who invited The Satanic Temple of Seattle to attend the game. He called it an effort to get the school district to clarify its policy: While officials last month asked assistant coach Joe Kennedy to stop praying at the 50-yard line, he has continued the practice and threatened a...