SEATTLE -- An assistant football coach who was fired from a Washington state high school for praying on the field after games sued the school district Tuesday, saying officials violated his religious rights.The lawsuit filed by the First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based legal organization that focuses on religious freedom cases, wants Joe Kennedy restored to his coaching job with the varsity team at Bremerton High School, and it asks the U.S. District Court in Tacoma to rule that his postgame prayers are allowed.
Kennedy had prayed before and after games, sometimes joined by students, since 2008. The Bremerton School District said it did not want to be seen as endorsing religious activity and asked him to stop when the practice came to its attention last year. But he persisted by silently taking a knee and praying.
His case drew national attention. Dozens of lawmakers in the Congressional Prayer Caucus sent a letter to the superintendent expressing their support, and members of the Satanic Temple of Seattle caused an uproar when they arrived at a game clad in robes, makeup and ram's horns after being invited by students and teachers.
More: Football coach fired for postgame prayer takes action against school - CBS News
Bet he wouldn't have been fired if he had been a muslim.....
Kennedy had prayed before and after games, sometimes joined by students, since 2008. The Bremerton School District said it did not want to be seen as endorsing religious activity and asked him to stop when the practice came to its attention last year. But he persisted by silently taking a knee and praying.
His case drew national attention. Dozens of lawmakers in the Congressional Prayer Caucus sent a letter to the superintendent expressing their support, and members of the Satanic Temple of Seattle caused an uproar when they arrived at a game clad in robes, makeup and ram's horns after being invited by students and teachers.
More: Football coach fired for postgame prayer takes action against school - CBS News
Bet he wouldn't have been fired if he had been a muslim.....