Dori: Former Bremerton High School coach should not pray publicly

The U.S. Supreme Court just rejected the appeal of Bremerton High School football coach, Joe Kennedy, who was told that he couldn’t pray with the kids at midfield.

I’ve had Joe on the show and I’ll repeat what I said before. As a Christian who also coached girls basketball for 10 years in public high schools, I think Joe Kennedy is absolutely wrong on this issue.

I would pray for the health of the girls on my team before the games, but nobody knew it. I would stand or sit on the sideline and pray silently.

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When you are an adult in a leadership role in a public high school, there are certain rules you have to follow. Joe, if you want to pray with your team, then get a job with O’Dea High School or Bishop Blanchet High School or Kennedy High School, any parochial school where it is alright to do so. Bremerton High School is a public high school, and should not have any religious affiliation.

It was always my position that I would not want someone of a different faith in a leadership role praying with my own daughters. I would not want a Buddhist or a Muslim or anyone else imposing their religion on my own children. In the same way, it is never my role as a coach of someone else’s kids to, in any way, impose my faith on them.

I don’t think that this was the case with Joe Kennedy, but did some kids join in the prayer even if they didn’t want to because they were afraid they might lose playing time or face other consequences if they didn’t? There is always that possibility.

You’re supposed to galvanize as a coach; you’re supposed to bring everyone together, and your faith should not be a factor in a public school.

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