A Washington state high school assistant football coach who was fired for praying at midfield after games has sued the school district, saying his religious rights were violated.
The Texas-based First Liberty Institute filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
It seeks to have Joe Kennedy restored to his job as an assistant coach for the varsity team at Bremerton High School, and it asks the court to rule that his postgame prayers are allowed.
"As long as the kids understand that he's doing that in his individual and private capacity, which is what he's doing, it's perfectly constitutional and not only that, it's a violation of the constitution to tell him he's not allowed to pray," Hiram Sasser of Liberty Institute <a href="http://www.kiro7.com/news/bremerton-school-district-responds-defense-praying/27089731">told KIRO 7 News in October.</a>
Kennedy had prayed before and after games, sometimes joined by students, since 2008. The district asked him to stop when the practice came to its attention last year, but he persisted by silently taking a knee and praying.
[ >> PHOTOS: Bremerton High School football coach Joe Kennedy ]
The district argued that students could feel coerced to participate in religious activity when they see their coaches lead or endorse it.
A statement was released to KIRO 7 News by the district on Tuesday:
"The Bremerton School District received notice today that a lawsuit has been filed in federal court by a former high school assistant football coach. We are reviewing the complaint and will be working with District legal counsel to prepare the District’s defense. Because this matter is now before the federal court, it is not appropriate to discuss this case in the public. We will rely upon the federal court to resolve this matter, and look forward to presenting the District’s case in that esteemed venue."