Washington high school football coach Joseph Kennedy was fired from his coaching position for continually conducting postgame prayers with his team after games, but it appears that decision has been reversed in a massive way.
According to a report from Fox News this week, the United State Supreme Court ruled that Kennedy’s postgame prayers were protected by the 1st Amendment. And as a result of the ruling, not only will Kennedy get his job back next season, but he has also been awarded an absolutely massive settlement payout from the school.
“Joseph Kennedy was terminated from his high school football coaching position after he continued to conduct post-game prayers with students,” Fox News wrote on Tuesday. “Kennedy is now set to receive $1.7 million after the Bremerton School Board in Washington state accepted a settlement. He will also get his job back starting this upcoming season.”
Kennedy initially joined the coaching staff of the Bremerton High School football team in 2008 when he began praying alone at midfield. Soon after, players and students began to join him. The school claimed that once students became involved in the prayer, Kennedy violated the constitution’s prohibition on government officials promoting a religion.
Kennedy was suspended in 2015 after he reportedly refused to stop giving speeches containing religious references and his contract was not renewed, prompting him to take legal action against the school. And ultimately, that legal action was successful.
[Fox News]
