Washington high school coach “under investigation” for praying after games

[knapplc]

Washington high school coach “under investigation” for praying after games

 

Bremerton High School assistant coach Joe Kennedy, who spent 20 years in the Marine Corps, is under investigation from the Bremerton School District for praying with players after games, according to a report from KING5-TV in Washington. Kennedy, an assistant on the Bremerton varsity team and head JV coach, has routinely prayed at the 50-yard line following games.

 

From the local TV station's story:

 

 

Bremerton football coach investigated for post-game prayers

 

Parents in the stands on Monday told KING 5 they've watched Kennedy pray after every game for years. Some didn't seem to understand why it's all of a sudden become an issue.

 

"Maybe there are some people who don't go to church and don't want their kid exposed to it, but you can't stop it for everyone," said Wanda Stone. "He doesn't tell the kids that if they don't come out and pray they're not going to play. The kids are voluntarily going out there."

 

District policy states that staff members can't encourage or discrouage a student from engaging in non-disruptive oral or silent prayer. So there's nothing wrong with students or student athletes praying, it's just a question of what role the teacher or coach is playing in that prayer. It appears that is what the district investigation will try to determine.

 

 

I'm guessing Wanda Stone is right - someone who doesn't go to church doesn't like seeing this, and raised a stink about it.

 

The only way this is a problem is if the coach is forcing the kids to participate, or withholding playing time from those who don't. No reports have come out claiming this is the case, though, so in the absence of such a report, there is zero problem here.

 

Just as the religious don't get to shove their faith down someone else's throat, the irreligious don't get to shove their beliefs down the religious's throat. That freedom of religion thing works in a number of ways.

 

 

Such a dumb thing for someone to get in a twist about. Leave people be, for crying out loud.

[Hammerhead]

 

Washington high school coach “under investigation” for praying after games

 

Bremerton High School assistant coach Joe Kennedy, who spent 20 years in the Marine Corps, is under investigation from the Bremerton School District for praying with players after games, according to a report from KING5-TV in Washington. Kennedy, an assistant on the Bremerton varsity team and head JV coach, has routinely prayed at the 50-yard line following games.

 

From the local TV station's story:

 

 

Bremerton football coach investigated for post-game prayers

 

Parents in the stands on Monday told KING 5 they've watched Kennedy pray after every game for years. Some didn't seem to understand why it's all of a sudden become an issue.

 

"Maybe there are some people who don't go to church and don't want their kid exposed to it, but you can't stop it for everyone," said Wanda Stone. "He doesn't tell the kids that if they don't come out and pray they're not going to play. The kids are voluntarily going out there."

 

District policy states that staff members can't encourage or discrouage a student from engaging in non-disruptive oral or silent prayer. So there's nothing wrong with students or student athletes praying, it's just a question of what role the teacher or coach is playing in that prayer. It appears that is what the district investigation will try to determine.

 

 

I'm guessing Wanda Stone is right - someone who doesn't go to church doesn't like seeing this, and raised a stink about it.

 

The only way this is a problem is if the coach is forcing the kids to participate, or withholding playing time from those who don't. No reports have come out claiming this is the case, though, so in the absence of such a report, there is zero problem here.

 

Just as the religious don't get to shove their faith down someone else's throat, the irreligious don't get to shove their beliefs down the religious's throat. That freedom of religion thing works in a number of ways.

 

 

Such a dumb thing for someone to get in a twist about. Leave people be, for crying out loud.

 

 

Well said, knapp.

 

I can't speak for everyone, but I'd assume that most atheists wouldn't have an issue at all with things like this. I certainly don't (as long as it's all voluntary, which I would assume that it is). It only takes one or two that decide to get offended by something like this and raise a stink about it to ruin it for everybody else, and that's not just for the coaches who are religious and welcome others to join them for prayer after games because heaven forbid that a vocal minority be offended by anything, but it also goes for the atheists who don't have an issue with this and aren't a fan of trying to impinge on other people's freedom, because some religious people hear about people like whomever decided to kick up a fuss over this and assume that this is just what atheists do.

[Scratchtown]

 

 

Just as the religious don't get to shove their faith down someone else's throat, the irreligious don't get to shove their beliefs down the religious's throat. That freedom of religion thing works in a number of ways.

 

I appreciated this. +1 for that comment alone.

[GBRedneck]

But the real problem is that it opens it up for all kinds of other "religions". It's fine if he has the prayer thingy at the 50 yard line, but if they allow it, they have to allow everybody to do it.

 

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/brace-for-field-day-on-bremertons-50-yard-line/

[Scratchtown]

 

 

Washington high school coach “under investigation” for praying after games

 

Bremerton High School assistant coach Joe Kennedy, who spent 20 years in the Marine Corps, is under investigation from the Bremerton School District for praying with players after games, according to a report from KING5-TV in Washington. Kennedy, an assistant on the Bremerton varsity team and head JV coach, has routinely prayed at the 50-yard line following games.

 

From the local TV station's story:

 

 

Bremerton football coach investigated for post-game prayers

 

Parents in the stands on Monday told KING 5 they've watched Kennedy pray after every game for years. Some didn't seem to understand why it's all of a sudden become an issue.

 

"Maybe there are some people who don't go to church and don't want their kid exposed to it, but you can't stop it for everyone," said Wanda Stone. "He doesn't tell the kids that if they don't come out and pray they're not going to play. The kids are voluntarily going out there."

 

District policy states that staff members can't encourage or discrouage a student from engaging in non-disruptive oral or silent prayer. So there's nothing wrong with students or student athletes praying, it's just a question of what role the teacher or coach is playing in that prayer. It appears that is what the district investigation will try to determine.

 

 

I'm guessing Wanda Stone is right - someone who doesn't go to church doesn't like seeing this, and raised a stink about it.

 

The only way this is a problem is if the coach is forcing the kids to participate, or withholding playing time from those who don't. No reports have come out claiming this is the case, though, so in the absence of such a report, there is zero problem here.

 

Just as the religious don't get to shove their faith down someone else's throat, the irreligious don't get to shove their beliefs down the religious's throat. That freedom of religion thing works in a number of ways.

 

 

Such a dumb thing for someone to get in a twist about. Leave people be, for crying out loud.

 

 

Well said, knapp.

 

I can't speak for everyone, but I'd assume that most atheists wouldn't have an issue at all with things like this. I certainly don't (as long as it's all voluntary, which I would assume that it is). It only takes one or two that decide to get offended by something like this and raise a stink about it to ruin it for everybody else, and that's not just for the coaches who are religious and welcome others to join them for prayer after games because heaven forbid that a vocal minority be offended by anything, but it also goes for the atheists who don't have an issue with this and aren't a fan of trying to impinge on other people's freedom, because religious people hear about people like whomever decided to kick up a fuss over this and assume that this is just what atheists do.

 

That's the whole thing about neither side getting along in the first place.

 

Bad Apples always seem to get magnified, and so, emotional response comes into play after...then it develops into a sh!tstorm. When really the original person throwing a fit just needs to look in the mirror and start seeing life for what it is...an opportunity to make oneself better rather than point the finger telling everyone else how to live their life.

 

As Knapp said, that stance is for BOTH sides to take a look at. Not just one of the other. Co-exist people.

 

[VectorVictor]

But the real problem is that it opens it up for all kinds of other "religions". It's fine if he has the prayer thingy at the 50 yard line, but if they allow it, they have to allow everybody to do it.

 

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/brace-for-field-day-on-bremertons-50-yard-line/

 

Yup. This is what people continually fail to realize--there's a lot of religions out there, so how is one expected to let them all in.

 

Plus, it's a public institution/school. Shouldn't be doing it there in the first place.

[Decked]

If he didn't force anyone to participate, I have no problems with this. Shouldn't even be an issue in the first place.

[knapplc]

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

[VectorVictor]

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

 

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

[Decked]

 

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

 

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

 

If they aren't forcing anyone to pray with them then why does it matter? Honest question. It applies to every religion and people who choose not to believe in that.

[NUance]

 

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

 

"Concluding" the event? It sounds like the coach's prayer is a voluntary thing done after the event is over. Do the Huskers still do this? I know they used to. Given the way things are going, maybe we should start praying again.

[GBRedneck]

 

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

 

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

 

It's only an endorsement if they don't let other groups do the same thing. This opens it up to the Wiccans and Pagans and Satanists and Pastafarians and all of a sudden you have a circus after every game.

 

That's why the school shut him down. It's just much easier.

 

Besides, if the guy is such a good Christian, why doesn't he take Jesus's advice?

 

Matt 6:5-6 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

[knapplc]

 

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

 

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

 

 

 

The school event is over, that school property is public ground, and that school staff is welcome to practice any faith they choose, or no faith at all. There's nothing prohibiting them from praying on school grounds.

 

This is not the school pushing religion on anybody. It's Americans exercising their legally-protected rights to practice their religion.

[knapplc]

 

 

There's nothing stopping any other religion from holding a prayer session at the same time.

 

The fact that multiple religions exist and may want to do the same thing should not stop these people from praying. That field is a public place and they can use it as they see fit. Allowing that prayer does not constitute an endorsement on the part of the school.

Except that it does when it's concluding a school sponsored event. On school property. With school staff.

 

"Concluding" the event? It sounds like the coach's prayer is a voluntary thing done after the event is over. Do the Huskers still do this? I know they used to. Given the way things are going, maybe we should start praying again.

 

Yes, after every game. There's always a prayer at midfield. Lots of times visiting players participate. Ron Brown used to lead those prayers. Not sure who does now.

[NUance]

Besides, if the guy is such a good Christian, why doesn't he take Jesus's advice?

 

Matt 6:5-6 5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.[/size] [/size]6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."[/size] [/size]

I suspect that verse is referring more to an individual who grandstands by making a big show of publicly praying to God. That's a bit different than leading a group prayer. There are other verses that encourage people to come together to worship. Like Matthew 18:20, for example.

 

But I see what you're saying. Maybe that's what the guy will do now. Lead a prayer in the lockerroom. But I imagine someone would complain about that too.