Christian football coach, Joe Kennedy, has won the case where he was fired for praying on the field after football games at Bremerton School District, Washington D.C. On Monday, the United States’ Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the school discriminated against Kennedy.
The court’s decision was delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch, including Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh.
Gorsuch wrote, "Kennedy prayed during a period when school employees were free to speak with a friend, call for a reservation at a restaurant, check email, or attend to other personal matters. He offered his prayers quietly while his students were otherwise occupied. Still, the Bremerton School District disciplined him anyway.
"Both the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect expressions like Mr. Kennedy’s ... The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike."
Meanwhile, Kennedy expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for the ruling. He said, “This is just so awesome. All I’ve ever wanted was to be back on the field with my guys. I am incredibly grateful to the Supreme Court, my fantastic legal team, and everyone who has supported us. I thank God for answering our prayers and sustaining my family through this long battle.”
First Liberty, a religious liberty law firm based in Plano, Texas, represented Kennedy in the case. While reacting to the Supreme Court judgment, President and chief counsel for First Liberty, Kelly Shackelford, praised the ruling of the court. She described it as a "tremendous victory for Coach Kennedy and religious liberty for all Americans."
She continued, "Our Constitution protects the right of every American to engage in private religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of getting fired.
"We are grateful that the Supreme Court recognized what the Constitution and law have always said — Americans are free to live out their faith in public."
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