High School Football Coach to Defy School District Order to not Pray after Game

Here again Christians are trying to push their religion on the public and using public facilities and events to do it, in spite of our Constitution's prohibition against the government sponsoring religion. Ironically he admits that he doesn't know the constitution, maybe he should read it? Also ironic, he seems to be a good person and not just grandstanding like so many religious people, but that still doesn't mean it's allright to violate the constitution and School District rule. I think he should do this at a church or youth group and not a public school where it's clearly illegal. They also say he used to do pre-game prayers which are even worse because the team had to be there at the time.

www.seattletimes.com...

a reply to: CB328

I saw this earlier, if some guy wants to pray before a game (like Jesus gives a crap about football) I say let him. I do not see what the big deal is.

a reply to: CB328

So you want to force people to express themselves in designated areas of your choosing?

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: CB328

So you want to force people to express themselves in designated areas of your choosing?

No. He wants to keep religion out of public schools, and keep teachers from pushing their beliefs onto students.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I guess it would only be a problem if he forced others to join in?

One thing I would ask though. Would they take the same stance with other religions?

originally posted by: Klassified

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: CB328

So you want to force people to express themselves in designated areas of your choosing?

No. He wants to religion out of public schools, and keep teachers from pushing their beliefs onto students.

I see. So you aren't for letting a person pray. Got it.

originally posted by: Cobaltic1978
I guess it would only be a problem if he forced others to join in?

That is where I would take issue. It appears that the others who join him do so voluntarily.

One thing I would ask though. Would they take the same stance with other religions?

Good question. Maybe I should show up with my Cthulhu statue and see what happens.

I think that the opposing team's coach should conduct a voodoo ritual before the game and then see where the outrage is?

Religion belongs in peoples hearts and actions; rituals cause disparity and hate.

Cut the rituals and nobody will care or comment about your religion.

originally posted by: DBCowboy

originally posted by: Klassified

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: CB328

So you want to force people to express themselves in designated areas of your choosing?

No. He wants to religion out of public schools, and keep teachers from pushing their beliefs onto students.

I see. So you aren't for letting a person pray. Got it.

Pray all you want at church and at home. But keep your religion away from our kids in a publicly funded school, where you are a publicly funded teacher.

I honestly see no issue with this as long as they aren't forcing the players to do it. If the players do it voluntarily, what's the big issue?

I also noted that he had been doing pre-game prayers in the locker room which was no really voluntary because the players had to be there. The issue isn't him praying, it's him leading other people praying in a school.

a reply to: Klassified
Interesting. So you do want to dictate where someone can express themselves.

He USED TO hold prayers in the locker room. He no longer does. THIS prayer was after the conclusion of the game, when civilians are allowed on the field, i.e.: on school district property, after the official school-sanctioned event has ended. This has been going on since 2008. It's not new. It's just that the school district only recently decided to take action, after this has been done for 7 years. The guy is an assistant coach and member of the community, but not a teacher in the district. He actually works at PSNS: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

He was told to stop doing this several weeks ago, and he did stop, but after seeking legal opinions he decided this was a freedom of worship issue, and last night he held a silent prayer at the 50 yard line. Several players voluntarily joined him, including a number of players from the opposing team of Centralia (120 miles south)

I fully expect the district to take punitive action against him at this point. They may even fire him. This will set up a legal challenge on the issue, which is, can the school district tell a citizen he cannot pray on public property? That's going to be interesting since several churches "rent" school district property on Sundays to hold their services, which is the result of a court ruling several years ago. If a district "profits from prayer" on one day, and prevents prayer on another, how does that work?

I am giving you this information in a neutral manner (without the outrage) so you can better understand what is going on. I live in the same county where this is happening, and worked within the boundaries of this school district for my entire career.

a reply to: CB328

So, AFTER a game, this guy is going to go to the 50 yard line, close his eyes (maybe) and talk (say a prayer).

I think that will be very hard to arrest him for this unless they pass a law stating that nobody can talk on the field. I can understand the locker room and he agrees that this is not going to continue.



From the link:

Kennedy said he has never required his athletes to join him and that nobody is punished if they chose not to attend.

However, he also acknowledged that he has also routinely held pregame locker-room prayers, which he now agrees involved a “captive audience” and which have also raised concerns of district officials. Going forward, Kennedy said at a news conference Wednesday, he will no longer hold those pregame prayers.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Cobaltic1978
I guess it would only be a problem if he forced others to join in?

That is where I would take issue. It appears that the others who join him do so voluntarily.

One thing I would ask though. Would they take the same stance with other religions?

Good question. Maybe I should show up with my Cthulhu statue and see what happens.

Don't forget to let us know how it goes.

originally posted by: Klassified
But keep your religion away from our kids in a publicly funded school, where you are a publicly funded teacher.

If he is not proselytizing or compelling others to join him what is the issue? I am all for separation of church and state but this particular issues seems a bit fascist to me.

originally posted by: Cobaltic1978
Don't forget to let us know how it goes.

Well, if you happen to click on the news and see that an inter-dimensional portal to Carcossa was opened at a high school football game, it was a success.

a reply to: Klassified

I'm not so thin skinned that someone praying would threaten my atheism. But then again, I'm for freedom so people can express themselves.

a reply to: infolurker

Seems like a reasonable guy to me. He acknowledged the pregame prayer wasn't exactly fair to those who don't believe and he stopped doing it.

I think the district trying to ban him and his players praying on their own time and their own accord is a bit fascist. Let the people practice their religion like the Bill of Rights allows.

a reply to: CB328

This argument will never cease, because its Christian mandate to involve everything they do with religious practice and fervor.

Not praying for the big game? Sacrilegious…