AM 770 KTTH: SEATTLE'S LEADER OF CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO

Praying Bremerton coach garners support from legislators at state and federal level

Oct 27, 2015, 4:44 PM | Updated: Oct 14, 2024, 9:12 am

Bremerton football coach Joe Kennedy prays with players on the field. (AP)...

Bremerton football coach Joe Kennedy prays with players on the field. (AP)

(AP)

As Bremerton football coach Joe Kennedy continues to defy the school district by praying at midfield after games, he’s starting to garner support in legislatures at the state and federal level.

Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus released a letter to the Bremerton School District superintendent and Bremerton High School principal arguing the threats to punish or fire coach Kennedy are unconstitutional.

The letter, drafted by committee co-chairmen Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Virginia), explains the free exercise of religion is among the most basic rights of American citizens.

Related: Student reaches out to Satanist Temple for postgame prayer

“The Establishment Clause exists to ensure that the government cannot affirmatively impose or elevate one religion over another,” the letter reads. “However, it does not prohibit the government from referencing religion altogether, nor does it require that government officials proactively scrub all references of religion from the public square.”

Forty-seven members signed the letter, including Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Pasco).

Local legislators in Olympia aren’t to be outdone, however. Both Rep. Graham Hunt (R-Orting) and Rep. Jesse Young (R-Gig Harbor) attended the Bremerton High School football game Monday night in support of Kennedy. They joined him in his postgame prayer.

“We actually put our hands on him and we were praying,” Hunt told AM 770 KTTH’s David Boze. “We being myself, Rep. Jesse Young and others who had joined us from the bleachers.”

Hunt said because Kennedy isn’t sure which game could be his last he’s making a point to communicate how much he values his players.

“If this is his last game he wants them to know ‘I love you and you’ve done a good job,'” Hunt said. “He’s truly inspiring these kids and making such an investment into their lives.”

This kind of behavior should be rewarded, Young said, not squelched.

“As a man that’s served 20 years in the military, he’s served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, he’s going down to mentor young youth especially in a low income district,” Young said. “It’s the type of volunteerism we’ve really encouraged from the state level.”

Boze argued any outrage is misplaced, considering Kennedy never seemed that worried about whether anyone joined him in his prayers.

“He never asked kids to join him,” Boze pointed out. “He never told kids they needed to join him, and the prayer itself was so nonsectarian I don’t even think that the prayer with the team would violate anything.”

Even a sectarian prayer won’t necessarily make people think there is an established religion, Young asserted.

“We start every day of the legislature in prayer,” Young said. “Sometimes it’s a Christian prayer, sometimes it’s a Jewish prayer, some other faith prayer, sometimes people are up there praying to mother earth.”

Hunt and Young both plan to attend Bremerton’s next game on Friday.

AM 770 KTTH: Seattle's Leader of Conservative Talk Radio

a woman wearing a face mask and holding a microphone celebrating a Hamas leader. The hate rally hig...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: After another hate rally, the Trump admin must investigate antisemitism at University of Washington

UW antisemitism reared its ugly head once again. After yet another hate rally, it's time for the Trump administration to investigate UW.

30 minutes ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Is Washington killing citizen initiatives?

Imagine waking up one morning to find that your fundamental right to influence state policy through citizen-led initiatives has been effectively nullified. This is not a dystopian fantasy but a looming reality in Washington State, where Senate Democrats are advancing legislation that will dismantle the very framework of our direct democracy. Senate Bill 5382 (SB […]

1 day ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Stretching gyms are a real thing

Stretching can be difficult, but it’s good for you. Now, you can get help with stretching gyms. This is not a joke. You can get a membership, and someone will assist you….stretch. Enjoy a Double Shot!☕☕ Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand […]

3 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: King County to cut $85M from public safety & courts?!

King County Executive Dow Constantine is preparing a county budget proposal to slash over $85 million from critical public safety and judicial services, including the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Public Defense and more according to budget documents obtained by “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. Listen to The […]

3 days ago

Petitions signatures...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Democrats are trying to end voter-led initiatives in Washington. Will you stay silent?

The voter-led initiatives process in Washington is under attack thanks to a new deceitful bill by Democrats.

3 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: A sad state of journalism

A meteorologist couldn’t quite figure out why more people are dying of hypothermia in Washington. The thing is… we already know why. Click to watch. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcast

3 days ago

Praying Bremerton coach garners support from legislators at state and federal level