ICC Note: In Washington state, Rep. Jesse Young recently proposed a bill that would allow coaches to pray after athletic events without repercussion. This bill was proposed in response to a case that arose in 2015 when high school football coach Joe Kennedy was fired for praying on the 50-yard line after games. Young has suggested that this type of prayer is constitutionally acceptable because it is taking place after the school-sponsored event, the game, has already concluded.
By Heather Clark
01/29/2017 United States (Christian News Network) – A lawmaker in Washington State has proposed a bill that would provide allowance to athletic coaches and others to pray at the end of a sporting event without obstruction or punishment.
Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor, introduced H.B. 1602 last on Wednesday as a response to a situation involving a school district that fired a high school football coach in the midst of a battle over his desire to pray at the 50-yard line.
As previously reported, Joe Kennedy, the former assistant head coach for the varsity team at Bremerton High School and the head coach for the junior varsity team, was placed on paid administrative leave in October 2015 when he prayed at the conclusion of the homecoming game despite an order to cease his eight-year practice.
In December 2015, the former U.S. Marine turned football coach filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging workplace retaliation against his Christian expression in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“It’s a really important issue for me because this is a covenant I made with God—before I even started coaching, that if I became a coach, what I would do is give You the glory on the 50 after every game,” Kennedy told reporters. “And it evolved to be with the kids.”
In August, his attorneys also filed a federal lawsuit challenging his treatment at the high school as his coaching contract was not renewed.
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