Article author:
Related press
Jessica Gresko
Washington (AP) — Monday's Supreme Court on field after match A Washington football coach who knelt down and tried to pray.
The court ruled 6-3 in line with the coach's ideology. The judge said the coach's prayers were protected by the First Amendment.
"The Constitution and the best of our traditions advise on mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship or oppression, on religious and non-religious views," Judge Neil Gorsuch said. The official wrote in the majority.
In this case, the judge works on how to balance the right of teachers and free speech with the right of students to avoid pressure to participate in religious practices. I was forced to. The result may strengthen the acceptance of some religious practices in public schools.
This decision is also the latest in a series of Supreme Court decisions against religious plaintiffs. In another recent example, the court ruled that Religious Schools cannot be excluded from programs in which Maine provides tuition assistance for private education. This is a decision that may facilitate access to the money of religious taxpayers.
It's probably not surprising that the court ruled the coach. In 2019, the court refused to file an early proceeding, but four conservatives in the court said that the lower court's decision to support the school district was "understanding the right to free speech in public schools." I agreed that I had a problem. teacher.
The previous case involving the judge involved Joseph Kennedy, a Christian and former football coach at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. Kennedy started coaching at school in 2008 and initially prayed alone at the 50-yard line at the end of the game. However, the students began to join him, and eventually he began to tell short, moving stories with religious references. Kennedy did it for years, leading students to changing room prayers. The school district knew what he was doing in 2015 and asked him to stop.
Kennedy stopped leading students to pray in the changing rooms and outdoors, but continued to pray in the open air so that students could freely participate if they wished. I wanted to. Concerned that he would be accused of violating the student's right to religious freedom, the school asked him to stop kneeling and praying while he was "on duty" as a coach after the match. The school sought to come up with a solution so that Kennedy could pray personally before and after the match. The school took him on paid leave as he knelt down and continued to pray in the fields.
Three judges in court attended public high school and the rest attended Catholic school.
The case is Kennedy vs. Bremerton School District, 21-418.
From the newsroom to the noon inbox, Toronto Sun's latest headlines, stories, opinions and photos. By clicking the
Thank you for registering.
A welcome email has been sent. If you don't see it, check your junk folder.
Your Midday Sun's next issue will arrive in your inbox shortly.
