Coach Prays At Game District May Take Action

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — A Bremerton high school coach prayed at the end Friday night's football game, despite being told by district officials to stop.

The Kitsap Sun reports Bremerton High assistant coach Joe Kennedy knelt on the 50-yard line as his players left the field and prayed. Players from the other team and others joined him.

It's unclear what the district will do. Messages left the district's attorney as well as district officials were not immediately returned Sunday.

Superintendent Aaron Leavell has said Kennedy's long-standing practice runs counter to the constitutional mandate for separation of church and state. He said in a statement before the game that staff must refrain from religious expression while on duty.

Kennedy's law firm, Texas-based firm Liberty Institute, says the district has no right to ban the coach from personally praying. They say he didn't encourage or discourage student from participating.