(ReclaimingAmerica.com) – In a huge victory for religious liberty, a high school football coach fired for praying at games will be reinstated and receive nearly $2 million in compensation from the school district as part of a negotiated settlement.
The development comes after the US Supreme Court ruled last year in favor of coach Joe Kennedy from Bremerton High School in Washington state.
The Bremerton School District fired Kennedy in 2015 after he refused to comply with an order to end his Christian prayers and talks after football games.
The coach would pray on the 50-yard line at the end of games, and a number of students began joining him.
The activity grew, and he began giving inspirational talks to the students referencing God and religion.
Upon learning about the practice, the school district at first scolded him and then fired him.
In August 2022, the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Joe Kennedy, declaring that it was the coach’s First Amendment right to pray on the field.
In October 2022, another court ruled that Kennedy must be hired back by the Bremerton School District in Washington state no later than March 2023.
On March 6, Bremerton High School posted a statement on its website, announcing that Joe Kennedy would again be an assistant coach for the 2023 season.
“Mr. Kennedy will be an assistant football coach for Bremerton High School for the 2023 season. Mr. Kennedy has completed human resources paperwork, and we are awaiting the results of his fingerprinting and background check. Mr. Kennedy will need to complete all training required by WIAA,” the school said.
As part of his settlement with the school district, Kenney will be paid $1,775,000. The settlement deal has been announced by the district, which is yet to approve it, Breitbart News reported.
“As with any other assistant coach, Mr. Kennedy will be included in coaching staff communication and meetings, spring football practice, and other off-season football activities,” the district said.
The case of Joe Kennedy’s firing for his Christian prayers caught national attention. An article by Sports Illustrated has argued that his victory in the US Supreme Court represented an “erosion” of American democracy.”
“This Sports Illustrated article is little else but a long smear against Christians, conservatives, and white people in general, and coach Kennedy in particular, and on a vicious personal level,” Breitbart News noted at the time.
What is your opinion? Are you happy for the coach? Why or why not? Please share your view by emailing [email protected]. Thank you!
They tried to persecute him for his faith. Now, he's back… and two million dollars richer. https://t.co/TgzxFLnb62
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) March 20, 2023
