US Supreme Court takes case of high school coach who prayed at football game

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, a case in which a high school football coach was suspended for engaging in 30 seconds of personal prayer at the end of a game:

“As the friend-of-the-court brief we joined urging the Supreme Court to take this case explains, no right is more fundamental to our Constitution than the ability of every citizen to give personal thanks to God for the blessings of His provision. If left intact, the 9th Circuit’s overt hostility to personal religious practice would drum the faithful out of public life. It is absurd to label an act of obvious personal gratitude and humility governmental speech that is prohibited by the Constitution. We look forward to the Supreme Court considering the arguments in this case and affirming the constitutionally protected freedom of public officials to prayerfully practice their faith during working hours.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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