President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/feds-threat-catholic-hospital-funding-chapel-candle-could-ignite-legal-firestorm-attorneys-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could pull federal funding</a> from a Catholic hospital in Oklahoma — unless the hospital agrees to snuff out a chapel candle known as the &#8220;Eternal Flame.&#8221;
According to a <a href="https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502211111/CMS-Response-St.-Francis-Health-System-4-20-23.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> sent to Saint Francis Hospital South, a lone candle that represents the presence of the body of Christ in the Eucharist has been deemed a safety hazard — despite being displayed enclosed in a glass candle holder with a brass top and located in close proximity to fire sprinklers.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: The federal government told an Oklahoma Catholic hospital to either blow out a sanctuary candle or stop serving elderly, disabled, and low-income patients. <a href="https://twitter.com/BECKETlaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BECKETlaw</a> sent a letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHSGov</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CMSGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMSGov</a>, reminding them of Saint Francis’ right to religious freedom.… <a href="https://t.co/nfNf4UJyUx">pic.twitter.com/nfNf4UJyUx</a>
&mdash; LoriWindham (@LoriWindham1) <a href="https://twitter.com/LoriWindham1/status/1653758052078874624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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That <a href="https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502211111/CMS-Response-St.-Francis-Health-System-4-20-23.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a>, sent by a hospital accreditation agency known as the Joint Commission, said that failure to snuff out that candle — which has remained in place for 15 years at that particular hospital without any issues — could result in the hospital losing its accreditation. Because Joint Commission accreditation is often tied to federal funding, this could also result in the Saint Francis Health System — the nation&#8217;s 12th largest hospital — losing its ability to receive federal funding through programs like Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The Joint Commission has denied four waiver requests regarding the candle, prompting the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and the law firm Yetter Coleman LLP to take action on the hospital&#8217;s behalf.
In a <a href="https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502214615/St-Francis-Pre-litigation-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> dated May 2 and sent to both the Joint Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — along with Oklahoma&#8217;s two Senators — the Becket Fund threatened a lawsuit unless the candle was left alone.
&#8220;In requiring Saint Francis to extinguish its flame, you are trying to extinguish not just a candle, but the First Amendment rights of Saint Francis Health System, as well as vital healthcare for the elderly, poor, and disabled in Oklahoma,&#8221; the letter stated in part.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-31802">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
&#8220;We are writing to ask you to cease and desist before we file an emergency lawsuit naming you as defendants and seeking emergency relief and substantial damages,&#8221; the letter continued. &#8220;If we go to court, you will lose. I write in the hope that you will see reason (or at least the law) and we can skip to the easy part.&#8221;

Red Sanctuary Lamp or Eternal Flame at the Tabernacle in Catholic church

Biden Admin Could Yank Federal Aid Over Catholic Hospital’s Candle

Biden Admin Could Yank Federal Aid Over Catholic Hospital's Candle

Catholic Church

Executive

Joe Biden

Medicare

Prayer

U.S.

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East shared in an emotional reaction on Instagram after a <a class="c-link" href="https://dailywire.com/news/graphic-bodycam-footage-shows-heroic-police-response-to-nashville-shooting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://dailywire.com/news/graphic-bodycam-footage-shows-heroic-police-response-to-nashville-shooting/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">school shooting</a> rocked the Nashville community on Monday morning, saying, &#8220;I know prayers can’t take it back but I’m still going to pray like hell.&#8221;
Johnson took home the gold medal on balance beam in 2008 — and landed a team silver medal in addition to individual silver medals for her performances in the floor exercise and all-around — and she revealed on social media that she had been just across the street filming when chaos erupted outside <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-release-footage-of-nashville-christian-school-shooter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Covenant School</a>.
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Johnson&#8217;s post showed only the first names of the six people — three students and three staff members — who were shot to death in the attack. Alongside that image, she shared her thoughts as the situation unfolded.
&#8220;Too close. We were literally across the street filming when chaos ensued. When we started getting the calls, heard the sirens, saw the parents flying to get their babies,&#8221; Johnson began, adding that when they called the schools to check on their own children, they learned that other schools in the area were also locked down.
&#8220;Racing to pick up our own babies just to have them home and close. Hearing the news slowly come in about the 3 beautiful babies and the 3 staff members that were unfairly taken away from our world and their families,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;We sat in silence yesterday listening to the sirens, the helicopters, the chaos &#8230; Too close.&#8221;
&#8220;I woke up this morning in tears feeling guilt and sadness that we are ok and some families are not. I woke up scared to take our babies back to school or anywhere for that matter. I woke up sad for everyone, for our country, our world,&#8221; Johnson added.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-8762">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
She concluded by saying that it was only her faith that was keeping her strong: &#8220;I know prayers can’t take it back but I’m still going to pray like hell. I believe our God is good. It’s all I can believe in right now. My faith is all I can lean on right now. God, please save us all from this evil.&#8221;

Six Killed In Mass Shooting At A Private School In Nashville

‘God Please Save Us’: Olympic Gymnast Was Across The Street When Nashville Shooting Started

Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson East Was Across The Street When Nashville Shooting Started

Gymnastics

Nashville

Olympics

School Shooting

Shooting

Fundamental freedoms have been dealt an extreme blow by the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the passage of a new <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> on Tuesday rolling out so-called “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England and Wales. The Public Order Bill puts into force 150-meter censorship zones banning any form of “influence,” including silent prayer and consensual conversations, wherever abortions are performed. The U.K., the birthplace of the Magna Carta and many of the foundational freedoms we enjoy in the West, is now leading the charge on a new era of thought-crime prosecution.
One need only look to recent arrests to understand the immense human rights ramifications of the new law. Where censorship zones are already in force, they have engendered severe violations of the right to free expression. Take for example the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/twitter-erupts-clip-uk-woman-arrested-silently-praying-across-abortion-clinic-terrifying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">viral</a> arrest of <a href="https://adf.uk/support-isabel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce</a>, whose case reveals the state of legal chaos that censorship zones generate. Isabel was first arrested in December for the “crime” of standing in peaceful silence, praying, on a public sidewalk classified as a censorship zone near a Birmingham, England abortion facility. In February, she was <a href="https://adf.uk/not-guilty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquitted</a> fully in court, only to be <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11830349/Moment-Catholic-woman-arrested-second-time-silently-praying-outside-abortion-clinic.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> once again for the imperceptible act of silent prayer on Monday of this week.
At the time of the second incident, the arresting officer <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/ADF_UK/status/1632820479131099136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commented</a>: &#8220;You&#8217;ve said you&#8217;re engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” To which Isabel counters: &#8220;Silent prayer.&#8221; His response says it all —&#8221;You were still engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” Censorship zones empower authorities to arrest peaceful individuals on the basis of their thoughts alone. This is a catastrophic failure for a democratic society where every person should have the right to peaceful expression, not to mention, their own thoughts, in the place of their choosing.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Woman Arrested for Silently Praying" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6E105a58p8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And Isabel was not alone in what befell her. Catholic priest <a href="https://adf.uk/priest-legal-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Father Sean Gough</a> was criminally charged, and likewise found “not guilty,” for standing in silent prayer in the same zone as Isabel. Absurdly, he was also charged for having an “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker affixed to his car, which was parked in the zone. Army veteran <a href="https://adf.uk/army-vet-fined-for-praying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Smith-Connor</a> was fined for silent prayer in Bournemouth, England. Bournemouth offers a particularly outrageous example of censorship zone lunacy. The city has in place an eerily specific <a href="https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Communities/PSPOs/documents/Signed-PSPO-Ophir-Road-and-Surrounding-Area.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordinance</a>, ominously posted on signposts listing prohibited activities. These include sprinkling holy water, kneeling, reading scripture, and prayer considered to be an “act of approval/disapproval” toward abortion.
Most egregiously, the debate over the new nationwide law revealed that pro-censorship Members of Parliament deem the specific targeting of <a href="https://twitter.com/LoisMcLatch/status/1633145686295302144/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">silent prayer</a> acceptable. It is no accident that prayer, in all of its forms, is captured by the new prohibitions. This triggered a Parliamentary vote on an amendment to exclude both prayer and consensual conversation from the bill, which <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed</a> with 116 votes in favor and 299 against. 299 British Members of Parliament think prayer should be an offense under the law in certain public places. Let that sink in.
No doubt the new law will give rise to countless more abuses similar to that of Isabel, Father Sean, and Adam. Peaceful citizens throughout the country are now under real risk of legal sanction for exercising their most basic right to pray, think, and act in accordance with their convictions. At the same time, parts of the U.K. are experiencing rapidly escalating <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/three-people-dead-12-rapes-26233686" target="_blank" rel="noopener">violent crimes</a> without adequate response from law enforcement. What happens when already stretched police resources are redirected to patrol for prayer?
Censorship zone aficionados are quick to cite harassment as justification for these draconian measures. But this is a severe distortion of their real, and intended, impact. Censorship zones don’t “buffer” women from harassment. Harassment is always wrong, which is why it is already fully criminalized under U.K. law. It is clear that these zones are not about the protection of women. What they do is give the state the power to stifle views that are deemed disagreeable—in this case the view that both women and their unborn children are worthy of protection.
Today, the silencing power of the state in the U.K. is being leveraged full-throttle against the pro-life view. Tomorrow, censorship zones could be deployed to target another issue altogether. Parliament has opened the door to ever-proliferating state censorship in the U.K. Who’s to say that the next push won’t be for censorship zones around schools, government buildings, or any other public spaces deemed to require a protective bubble of this sort?
Let this be a clear warning to all concerned with the protection of fundamental freedoms. In the U.S., we must robustly defend our First Amendment protections. The thought police are real and standing by across the pond. Prayer can never be a crime, and nobody should be punished for peacefully living, and thinking, according to what they believe.
Elyssa Koren is an international human rights lawyer and director of legal communications for <a href="https://www.adfinternational.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADF International</a>. Follow her on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Elyssa_Koren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Elyssa_Koren</a> 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Abortion clinic protest court case

‘Buffer Zones’: U.K. Parliament Affirms Ban On Silent Prayer Around All Abortion Facilities

Abortion

Censorship

England

Readers Pass

U.K.

World

It has been over a week since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field of play during a game in Cincinnati, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/god-using-me-in-a-different-way-damar-hamlin-shares-game-day-message-for-his-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the response from Americans</a> has been nothing short of miraculous.
Donations to Damar’s charity toy drive soared overnight, assistance was offered to his loved ones by individuals and companies alike, and, most remarkably, our divided nation rallied in unison behind a solitary purpose.
We now have the comfort of knowing that Damar is alert and fully conscious, but let us take a moment to highlight the initial response to this near-tragic occurrence.
When the number three on Damar’s jersey was facing the sky because the young man lay flat on his back, unable to move or breathe, the men nearest him gathered around with a swift and singular action — they dropped to their knees in prayer. This wasn’t the act of a mere individual, or even a limited group of players, but rather a collective reaction from all involved.
The next day, Dan Orlovsky of ESPN followed suit and led his production team in devotion on live television. I cannot remember the last time I have seen that — or if I’ve ever seen that. In the week that followed, our entire country joined in and prayed for a young man most of us have never met, or will ever meet. 
I have no idea which religion, if any, the players on that field practice, and I am not familiar with their church attendance records. I only know that when those men saw a brother in need, when the situation in question was a matter of life or death, they didn’t hesitate to call upon a higher power. Imagine if we took that approach to prayer, not just in times of desperation, but ceaselessly.
Damar Hamlin is now on the road to recovery, and we must acknowledge the vital proficiency of the medical trainers and a top-tier hospital staff, but let us also emphasize the role played by a nation united in worship.
The paths forward are clear; we can either use this progress to better create cohesive communities, or we can move on with our lives, and fall back into a rut of detestation and division. Only time will tell how we proceed, but this much is certain — rather than falling to our knees in protest, America is better served when we fall to our knees in prayer.
David Cone is a co-host and producer of the Daily Wire’s sports show Crain &amp; Company, as well as a contributor to Morning Wire. David is also a former quarterback for the University of Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @davidadamcone
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Buffalo Bills v Cincinnati Bengals

Kneel In Prayer, Not In Protest

Damar Hamlin

Football

Sports

As Canada prepares to loosen laws related to medical assistance in dying, prayers published by the United Church of Canada designed to help sick and disabled people follow through with the lethal procedure are drawing criticism and shock.
Although euthanasia has been available to many Canadians for the past six years, the nation’s parliament considered <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html#a2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amendments</a> to the criminal code last year that would expand the availability of the practice. Among other changes, a citizen possessing only a &#8220;mental illness” can now request euthanasia starting next spring, whereas the practice was originally limited to individuals with serious physical illnesses or disabilities.
The new <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-33.html#h-119953" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislation</a> does not explicitly allow minors to seek assisted suicide. However, the “mature minor” doctrine <a href="https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/article12/p3a.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">held</a> by some provincial governments may allow “children who are sufficiently mature to make their own treatment decisions” apart from parental consent.
Even as many Canadian Christians <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/holds-autonomy-as-the-highest-virtue-christian-physician-reacts-as-canada-erodes-limits-on-assisted-suicide-for-teens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vehemently oppose</a> the rising prevalence of medical assistance in dying, arguing that the practice is a secularized affront to mankind as created in the image of God, the United Church of Canada — one of the largest mainline Protestant denomination in Canada, which <a href="https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/lgbtqia-two-spirit-timeline.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">embraces</a> the LGBTQ movement and social justice ideology, has drafted <a href="https://united-church.ca/worship-theme/death-and-dying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a number of prayers</a> designed to aid with euthanasia procedures.
The Prayer in the Midst of Fear, which is co-authored by a United Church of Canada minister and the former co-president Dying with Dignity, an advocacy group which supported the legalization of assisted suicide in Canada, can be described as an exercise in radical autonomy. The <a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Funited-church.ca%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fprayer_midst_of_fear.docx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supplication</a> centers upon asking God that family members would accept their loved one’s decision to kill themselves with the aid of medical professionals. Making no mention of eternal life secured through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the prayer attempts to embrace an uncertainty about death.
<blockquote>I am afraid. I feel fear penetrating my mind and my heart. I feel fear in my gut.
I am afraid to die. I do not know what lies beyond the barrier of death. I am afraid to release myself to the great unknown.
I am heartbroken and afraid to leave my family. I am still needed!
I have let go of hope for healing, and I hold on to hope for the next life.
I am afraid that my family and loved ones, children and grandchildren will be troubled when I tell them I plan to die using medical aid in dying…
But, in the midst of my fear, I have hope that my family and loved ones, children and grandchildren will understand the choice to end my suffering.
I hope they will be proud of my decision and will understand that MAID is consistent with the love and compassion of Jesus. I have such peace in knowing this is my choice. My family loves me but they cannot feel my suffering, they cannot comprehend my helplessness.
I have hope and assurances that my death will be gentle. I am grateful that I can make this choice, for I am terrified of dying in pain and being helpless.</blockquote>
Jake Meador, the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, <a href="https://twitter.com/jake_meador/status/1592552260206092288" target="_blank" rel="noopener">characterized</a> the prayer as “actually demonic,” noting that he is usually “careful about the use of such language.” A number of fellow commentators and ministers agreed.
The <a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Funited-church.ca%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fprayer_offered_with_children.docx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prayer to Be Offered with Children</a>, written by the same authors of the aforementioned supplication, is meant to help children understand their parents’ decisions to be euthanized. 
<blockquote>We know they are hurting. We have seen them cry. We have seen our parent cry and other people cry. It makes us afraid.
We will miss our parent, we will miss their smile, we will miss their stories, and we will miss their fun.
Did you know that mom loved camping, God? She really loved camping.
We do not know where they are going, but we know they will stop hurting. We are glad they will stop hurting.
We are not sure what happens when a person dies. Maybe part of them goes to a better place. Dear God, please take care of our parent when they die. Hug them very close and take care of them after, too.</blockquote>
Far from a fringe movement, casualties from medical assistance in dying now <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying/annual-report-2021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">account</a> for 3.3% of the overall death toll in Canada, including a 4.7% rate in Quebec and a 4.8% rate in British Columbia. Contrary to public messaging by organizations promoting assisted suicide, a mere 57.6% of individuals requesting the procedure cited unbearable pain, while 86.3% reported a reduced ability to engage in meaningful activities.

Close-up of woman holding a votive candle

‘Actually Demonic’: Read A Mainline Canadian Denomination’s Prayers To Help People Commit Medically Assisted Suicide

Canada

Euthanasia

Joe Kennedy, the Washington state high school football coach who lost his job in 2015 for praying on the field after games, will be reinstated by March 15, 2023.
The news comes after Kennedy&#8217;s Supreme Court victory in June that ruled 6-3 that the coach was within his constitutional rights when he prayed at midfield after games.
“Bremerton School District shall not interfere with or prohibit Kennedy from offering a prayer consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion,” the attorneys wrote in the filing, <a href="https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2022/10/27/19711039654116.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> court records. Some details remain in discussion, with the filing stating, “The parties disagree on the specific wording of this portion of the injunction.”
The documents also note the &#8220;Bremerton School District cannot retaliate against or take any future adverse employment action against Kennedy for conduct that complies with the terms of the Court’s Order.&#8221;
In a filing on Tuesday by both sides involved in the case, court records were submitted to U.S. District Court for Western District of Washington Judge Robert Lasnik that state Kennedy would be reinstated to his previous position. Kennedy served as assistant coach of the Bremerton High School football team before the controversy surrounding his post-game prayers.
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority ruling in the June decision seven years after the events.
“Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment. And the only meaningful justification the government offered for its reprisal rested on a mistaken view that it had a duty to ferret out and suppress religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech,&#8221; ” Gorsuch <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/high-school-football-coach-scores-big-win-supreme-court-post-game-prayer">wrote</a>. &#8220;The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination.”
Kennedy began serving as an assistant coach in 2008 and started the tradition of kneeling at the 50-yard line in prayer after each game. Some students voluntarily joined him at times.
The practice became an issue when a school administrator addressed the prayers in 2015, and Kennedy was placed on administrative leave.
Kennedy lost in both the district court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court turned down the case in 2019, sending the case back to the District Court, which sided with the previous rulings.
After the 9th Circuit Court again ruled against Kennedy, his legal team, First Liberty Institute, and Kirkland &amp; Ellis, resubmitted the case to the Supreme Court in 2021, and it was accepted.
“This is just so awesome.  All I’ve ever wanted was to be back on the field with my guys,&#8221; Kennedy <a href="https://firstliberty.org/donation/fye-2022-kennedy-victory-popup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after the court victory.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Supreme Court, my fantastic legal team, and everyone who has supported us,” he added. “I thank God for answering our prayers and sustaining my family through this long battle.”

Joe Kennedy

Fired Football Coach To Be Reinstated After Supreme Court Win

Courts

Faith

High School

SCOTUS

Supreme Court

Washington

Pope Francis asked for prayers on Sunday ahead of a trip this week to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan for an international meeting with religious leaders.
Francis shared the request during his message in St. Peter&#8217;s Square ahead of his scheduled three-day visit to the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions that begins Tuesday.
&#8220;It will be an occasion to meet so many religious representatives and to dialogue as brothers, animated by the common desire for peace, the peace for which our world is thirsting,&#8221; Francis <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-09/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-kazakhstan-prayers-angelus.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
&#8220;I give thanks for the preparations and the work done in preparation for my visit. I ask everyone to accompany this pilgrimage of peace with prayer,&#8221; he added.
The visit will mark a Pope&#8217;s first visit to the nation since St. John Paul II visited in 2001 as the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to travel to Kazakhstan.
Francis had previously hoped to meet with Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has supported his nation’s president, Vladimir Putin, despite the invasion of Ukraine. However, Patriarch Kirill later announced that he would no longer attend the conference, ending the potential meeting opportunity.
The prayer request echoed the Pope&#8217;s actions ahead of his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-francis-requests-prayers-as-he-prepares-for-trip-to-canada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July trip</a> to Canada. Francis made the journey to multiple stops across the nation, including an official apology for past times when indigenous Canadian children were forced to attend religious schools.
More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-prayer-vatican-city-00150033f0c37bd2fb5fbc69ee8ddc75" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the Associated Press.
Despite rumors of the Pope&#8217;s potential retirement following knee problems that have limited his travels, Francis has remained active. Following a recent trip to Canada, the Roman Catholic Church leader said he had no plans to step down.
“I think that at my age and with this limitation I have to save some energy to be able to serve the Church, or on the contrary, think about the possibility of stepping down,” Francis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-pope-francis-says-he-is-thinking-about-retiring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“I don’t think I can continue doing trips with the same rhythm as before,” he said. “But I will try to continue to travel in order to be close to people because it is a way of serving.”
Francis has also noted his hopes to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv to help promote peace following Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine. So far, he has been unable to make a trip to either location.
The Pope has also been in the headlines in recent months over his comments regarding President Joe Biden&#8217;s position on abortion. During a July Univision interview, he questioned the president&#8217;s view in which he stated that Biden’s claim to be Catholic yet support abortion is “incoherent.” The Catholic Church’s teachings oppose abortion.
“A month after conception, the DNA of the fetus is already there and the organs are aligned. There is human life,” the pope said during the interview. “Is it just to eliminate a human life?”

Pope Francis

Pope Francis Asks For Prayer Ahead Of Trip To Former Soviet Republic

Religion

Russia

A 76-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pro-life">pro-life</a> woman who was arrested and fined for silently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/prayer">praying</a> outside an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-went-to-the-clinic-of-the-dc-abortionist-accused-of-gruesome-crimes-heres-what-i-saw">abortion clinic</a> in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-reporter-asks-liverpool-manager-about-coronavirus-his-response-goes-viral">Liverpool</a> has had her penalty dismissed.
Rosa Lalor, a grandmother, was arrested, detained, and issued a fine by officers in February 2021 for supposedly breaking COVID lockdown measures with &#8220;protest.&#8221;
&#8220;Merseyside Police have now conceded that such detention was wrong, and that Lalor was acting within her rights, indeed having a &#8216;reasonable excuse&#8217; to be outdoors praying,&#8221; human rights group Alliance Defending Freedom (U.K.) <a href="https://adf.uk/public-prayer-ban/">announced</a> in a press release issued Monday.
“I’m delighted that the prosecution has finally dropped this charge after a long and exhausting battle for justice,&#8221; Lalor said.
&#8220;I took this challenge forward with support from ADF UK to show that we do all have a fundamental right to pray – not least pray as I did, in the privacy of my own mind,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;It was wrong for the police officer to tell me that I could not pray in a public street. It’s important for officers to respect basic religious freedom, and improve their understanding of how that right manifests, in order to maintain a truly tolerant society.&#8221;
Jeremiah Igunnubole, ADF U.K. legal counsel for Lalor, noted that while his client ultimately won in court, it&#8217;s &#8220;deeply regrettable&#8221; Lalor had to endure such suffering for merely praying in public, suggesting she was really persecuted for her pro-life views.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate a victory for Rosa today, but it is deeply regrettable that this law-abiding woman was subjected to distressing, drawn-out criminal proceedings in the first place, no doubt due to her pro-life stance,&#8221; he slammed.
&#8220;This follows a worrying trend in law enforcement where individuals are routinely arrested simply because their views are considered to be controversial or offensive,” Igunnubole added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨BREAKING: 76-year-old Rosa Lalor WINS against her wrongful arrest for a PRAYER WALK near abortion facility! The Northern Irish ban on such pro-life activity will face challenge at the UK Supreme Court *TOMORROW*. Prayer is never criminal.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bufferzones?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bufferzones</a> <a href="https://t.co/KrasG7YW79">https://t.co/KrasG7YW79</a>
&mdash; ADF UK (@ADF_UK) <a href="https://twitter.com/ADF_UK/status/1548996873675067392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Back here in the United States, a pro-life woman this month was awarded $5.1 million by a jury, finding that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southwest-airlines">Southwest Airlines</a> canned the 20-year veteran flight attendant for her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/religion">religious beliefs</a>, namely her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pro-life">pro-life views</a>.
Charlene Carter expressed her pro-life stance online and pushed back against the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 556 union after the group, including president Audrey Stone, attended the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/womens-march">Women’s March</a> in Washington, D.C., in 2017. The event receives funding from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98xR1grjqBY">Planned Parenthood</a>, the largest abortion mill in the country.
“Today is a victory for freedom of speech and religious beliefs. Flight attendants should have a voice and nobody should be able to retaliate against a flight attendant for engaging in protected speech against her union,” Carter <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/southwest-flight-attendant-awarded-5m-after-firing-over-abortion-stance">told</a> FOX Business last week. “I am so humbled and thankful for today’s decision and for everyone who’s supported me these past five years, including the National Right to Work Foundation.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flight-attendant-wins-millions-after-southwest-fires-her-for-being-pro-life-a-victory-for-freedom-of-speech">Flight Attendant Wins Millions After Southwest Fires Her For Being Pro-Life: ‘A Victory For Freedom Of Speech’</a>

Elderly Pro-Life Woman Arrested For Praying Outside Abortion Clinic Scores Legal Win

Pro-Life Woman Arrested For Praying Near Abortion Clinic Scores Legal Win

Coach Joe Kennedy didn’t intend to make a spectacle of himself or set an example. When he began a tradition in 2008 of offering a quiet, midfield prayer after Bremerton High School football games, he surely never thought that he’d be standing on the steps of the Supreme Court in June 2022 after a seven-year battle to regain his job.
The Court has now handed Kennedy a victory, holding that the Bremerton School District in Washington state violated the First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses by firing Kennedy for his personal, quiet post-game prayers.
The ruling is significant not just because it reinforces the First Amendment protections guaranteed to government employees, but because it strengthens our nation’s increasingly shaky commitment to pluralism &#8211; having diverse religious views or no religious view at all and coexisting in society.
In writing for the six-justice majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-418_i425.pdf">opened</a>: “The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike.”
The factual <a href="https://firstliberty.org/cases/coachkennedy/">record</a> in Kennedy’s case, however, was devoid of any evidence of respect or tolerance. To the contrary, the school district seemed to be under the mistaken impression that it had to scrub any private religious expression from the public square (here, school property).
From the outset, the Bremerton school district had argued that allowing any “overt actions” on Kennedy’s part that might appear to a “reasonable observer to endorse…prayer…while [Kennedy was] on duty as a District-paid coach” would violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, making it appear as though his religious exercise was school-sanctioned and that the government was somehow “<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CONAN-REV-2014/pdf/GPO-CONAN-REV-2014-10-2.pdf">establishing religion</a>.” In multiple letters that were exchanged with Kennedy prior to his lawsuit, the school district mentioned “endorsement of religion” eight times, but  nothing was said about any other concerns that might have prompted his termination.
However, the Supreme Court has clarified that a school does not endorse private, religious speech simply because it fails to censor it. In Kennedy’s case, Gorsuch noted that, by targeting his religious expression and nothing else, the school district’s policy on Kennedy’s prayers could hardly be considered neutral or “generally applicable.” As a result, the policy required the Supreme Court’s highest standard of review: <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/strict_scrutiny">strict scrutiny</a>. Under strict scrutiny review, the School District had to show that its actions were justified by a compelling state interest, narrowly tailored to meet that interest.
It could not.
The Court also refused to buy the school district’s argument that the Establishment Clause required a government entity to single out private religious speech for special disfavor. The government’s phantom constitutional violation didn’t justify an actual violation of Kennedy’s individual’s First Amendment rights. It believed &#8211; wrongly &#8211; that it had to suppress religious observances when a similar secular expression (i.e., taking a knee to protest police violence) was perfectly acceptable.
Bremerton School District had focused on suppressing religious expression, rather than on Free Exercise and pluralism, and Justice Gorsuch hinted as much. 
<blockquote>[L]earning how to tolerate speech or prayer of all kinds is ‘part of learning how to live in a pluralistic society,’ a trait of character essential to ‘a tolerant citizenry.’…This Court has long recognized as well that ‘secondary school students are mature enough &#8230; to understand that a school does not endorse,’ let alone coerce them to participate in, ‘speech that it merely permits on a nondiscriminatory basis.’ &#8230; Of course, some will take offense to certain forms of speech or prayer they are sure to encounter in a society where those activities enjoy such robust constitutional protection. But ‘[o]ffense &#8230; does not equate to coercion.’</blockquote>
Later in the opinion, Gorsuch again extolled the virtues of pluralism and stressed its relevance to Kennedy’s case:
<blockquote>In the name of protecting religious liberty, the District would have us suppress it. Rather than respect the First Amendment’s double protection for religious expression, it would have us preference secular activity…It is a rule…that would undermine a long constitutional tradition under which learning how to tolerate diverse expressive activities has always been ‘part of learning how to live in a pluralistic society.’…We are aware of no historically sound understanding of the Establishment Clause that begins to ‘mak[e] it necessary for government to be hostile to religion’ in this way.</blockquote>
The CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Rachel Laser, was <a href="https://fox8.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-former-football-coach-in-public-school-prayer-case/">predictably apoplectic</a> about the Court’s ruling, writing, “Religious freedom is not the right to use your power as an agent of the state and a public school coach to impose your beliefs on students.”
Yet, nothing in the record indicates Kennedy’s prayers were in any way coercive. When approached by players who wanted to join him in prayer, he responded simply by saying, “This is a free country. You can do what you want.” Not exactly the stuff of intimidation.
No American should have to choose between their faith and their job, and the Supreme Court’s decision in the Kennedy case provides assurance that no American can be forced to do so simply because he is a public employee who wants to pray quietly at work. Though, as the body politic creeps toward polarization and as civil discourse gives way to civil unrest, much of the nation seems to believe that a person’s private religious expression is suited only for their church, synagogue, or mosque alone.
The Founders did not countenance such a limited understanding of religious exercise, and the Court’s long-standing precedents don’t support it.
However, in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed a long-standing principle, correctly ruling that teachers and other school employees do not surrender their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate. Kennedy’s quiet prayers after school football games &#8211; while visible to others &#8211; in no way represented a government establishment or endorsement of religion.
After a seven-year battle to protect his right to religious expression, Coach Kennedy’s story has a happy ending &#8211; one that will set a precedent protecting the right of all Americans to practice their faith in the public square. It’s a story about the good in America and her (sometimes reluctant) commitment to pluralism.
Sarah Parshall Perry is a Legal Fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation (<a href="http://heritage.org/">heritage.org</a>).
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

v2 Perry – Prayer and Pluralism- Victory for the Coach Who Took a Knee

Prayer And Pluralism: SCOTUS Victory For The Coach Who Took A Knee

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) blasted an attack by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) that criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding coach Joe Kennedy.
Omar argued the ruling made religious freedom &#8220;dead&#8221; in America. Cruz argued that &#8220;every word&#8221; in her critique was false.
&#8220;The Supreme Court just ruled that public school teachers can pressure students to join in prayer at public school events but can also retaliate against those that don’t join in,&#8221; Omar tweeted. &#8220;Religious freedom is dead in America.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Every word of this is false. <a href="https://t.co/FSiml1689j">https://t.co/FSiml1689j</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1541624682494976000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The congresswoman&#8217;s first claim accused the court of allowing teachers to &#8220;pressure&#8221; students to join in public prayer. In contrast, the ruling was limited to Coach Kennedy&#8217;s personal freedom to pray publicly.
<a href="https://firstliberty.org/cases/coachkennedy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to</a> First Liberty, which represented Kennedy in the case, &#8220;On September 17, 2015, Superintendent Aaron Leavell sent Coach Kennedy a <a href="https://firstliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20200722_Kennedy_Excerpts-of-Record_ER298-301.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener follow noreferrer" data-wpel-link="internal" data-feathr-click-track="true">letter</a> informing him of the district’s investigation into whether Coach Kennedy had appropriately complied with the school board’s policy on &#8216;Religious-Related Activities and Practices.'&#8221;
The school district noted that Kennedy had “not actively encouraged, or required, participation.”
Omar also claimed public schools could &#8220;retaliate&#8221; against students who don&#8217;t join in prayer with teachers. The ruling did not offer any information regarding the treatment of students for a school staff member who chooses to personally pray at the conclusion of a football game.
The congresswoman&#8217;s conclusion that religious freedom is dead in America is the opposite of the case&#8217;s conclusion. Kennedy instead acknowledged that the court ruling in his favor was a win for religious freedom.
“It is just incredible to know that I did nothing wrong. Everything I did was fine,” Kennedy <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10958965/Incredible-know-did-wrong-Football-coach-fired-praying-wants-old-job-back.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Daily Mail following the ruling. “And that the First Amendment is fine and well for everyone.”
Justice Neil Gorsuch&#8217;s opinion in Kennedy&#8217;s case emphasized the protection of the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment.
“Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment. And the only meaningful justification the government offered for its reprisal rested on a mistaken view that it had a duty to ferret out and suppress,” Gorsuch <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/high-school-football-coach-scores-big-win-supreme-court-post-game-prayer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in the Court’s opinion.
“Religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech. The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination,” he added.
Omar has also been known for other controversial views, including a Twitter post on Sunday that attempted to distinguish between being pro-life and &#8220;pro-forced birth.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s not pro-life if you oppose gun violence prevention, oppose universal healthcare, oppose affordable prescription drugs, oppose the child tax credit, oppose paid leave, oppose universal childcare, oppose free school meals, and support endless wars,&#8221; she wrote.
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It’s not pro-life if you oppose gun violence prevention, oppose universal healthcare, oppose affordable prescription drugs, oppose the child tax credit, oppose paid leave, oppose universal childcare, oppose free school meals, and support endless wars
You are just <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/proforcedbirth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#proforcedbirth</a>
&mdash; Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1541160071828226049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Squad&#8221; member has also vowed to codify abortion, garnering the support of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL, Women Winning, and the National Women&#8217;s Political Caucus of Washington.
&#8220;They understand as long as I&#8217;m in Congress, I will fight to codify Roe and reform this mockery of a Supreme Court. I am glad we are partners in this fight,&#8221; she wrote.
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In the wake of SCOTUS&#39; reversal of Roe, I&#39;m proud to be endorsed by <a href="https://twitter.com/PPact?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PPact</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/womenwinning?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@womenwinning</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NWPCNational?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NWPCNational</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/NARAL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NARAL</a>. They understand as long as I&#39;m in Congress, I will fight to codify Roe and reform this mockery of a Supreme Court. I am glad we are partners in this fight. <a href="https://t.co/PoRgQyvhdn">pic.twitter.com/PoRgQyvhdn</a>
&mdash; Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1541574031316553730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Ted Cruz

‘Every Word Of This Is False’: Ted Cruz Blasts Ilhan Omar’s Attack On Coach Kennedy Prayer Case

Ted Cruz Blasts Ilhan Omar's Attack On Coach Kennedy Prayer Case

Ilhan Omar

Minnesota

American conservatives celebrated the news of the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling in favor of a former Washington high school football coach praying on the field after games.
The Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 6-3 decision that Coach Joe Kennedy&#8217;s ability to privately pray on the 50-yard line falls under the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment.
&#8220;Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment. And the only meaningful justification the government offered for its reprisal rested on a mistaken view that it had a duty to ferret out and suppress,&#8221; Justice Neil Gorsuch <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/high-school-football-coach-scores-big-win-supreme-court-post-game-prayer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in the Court&#8217;s opinion.
&#8220;Religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech. The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination,&#8221; he added.
Conservatives were quick to respond on social media as news of the decision spread.
&#8220;Today our First Amendment rights were protected and religious liberty prevailed!&#8221; Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) tweeted.
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Today our First Amendment rights were protected and religious liberty prevailed! 
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of football coach, Joe Kennedy, who lost his job due to a post-game prayer on the 50-yard line. This is another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCOTUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCOTUS</a> victory for freedom!
&mdash; Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByronDonalds/status/1541444688300965891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Former Vice President Mike Pence also joined in noting the win for religious liberty.
&#8220;Today, Religious Liberty Won! In a 6-3 decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court upheld our first Freedom, the Freedom of Religion, in siding with Coach Kennedy!&#8221; Pence wrote.
&#8220;Grateful for Coach Kennedy’s courageous stand for Religious Freedom,&#8221; he added in another post.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today, Religious Liberty Won! In a 6-3 decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court upheld our first Freedom, the Freedom of Religion, in siding with Coach Kennedy!
&mdash; Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1541436197913956354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJimBanks/status/1541437543140433921" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the ruling, &#8220;A huge win for religious liberty! I’m inspired by and grateful for Coach Kennedy’s determination to protect prayer for public school officials.&#8221;
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) posted a picture of himself praying with Kennedy alongside his supportive words.
&#8220;Huge day for our right as Americans to be able to live our faith freely. Thank you for standing up for our right to freely live our faith, Coach Kennedy &amp; for taking your case all the way to the highest court in the land,&#8221; Lankford wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Huge day for our right as Americans to be able to live our faith freely. Thank you for standing up for our right to freely live our faith, Coach Kennedy &amp; for taking your case all the way to the highest court in the land. <a href="https://t.co/y9nhI3asPO">pic.twitter.com/y9nhI3asPO</a>
&mdash; Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorLankford/status/1541445785790849025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke more broadly in response to both Kennedy&#8217;s victory and Friday&#8217;s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. 
&#8220;The Court rightfully held that a football coach praying alone in view of his players is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather protected religious and free speech activity under the First Amendment. This is a common-sense ruling,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;All those years of hard work fighting for conservative judges on the Supreme Court is paying off-big time!&#8221; Graham added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
All those years of hard work fighting for conservative judges on the Supreme Court is paying off-big time!
&mdash; Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1541447183899279360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) also joined in the many responses to the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling.
&#8220;Religious freedom is a bedrock principle enumerated within our Bill of Rights. The Supreme Court upheld this principle and our founding documents by coming down on the side of Coach Kennedy,&#8221; Wicker tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Religious freedom is a bedrock principle enumerated within our Bill of Rights. The Supreme Court upheld this principle and our founding documents by coming down on the side of Coach Kennedy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCOTUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCOTUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/t6RtvyQ7mN">https://t.co/t6RtvyQ7mN</a>
&mdash; Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorWicker/status/1541432004029317121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveDaines/status/1541430570344931329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>, &#8220;Glad to see SCOTUS protect our religious freedom on and off the field.&#8221;
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) referred to the ruling as common sense.
&#8220;The Supreme Court confirmed what is common sense. A school can&#8217;t stop a football coach from having a private, post-game prayer,&#8221; he wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Supreme Court confirmed what is common sense.
A school can&#39;t stop a football coach from having a private, post-game prayer. 
Today is a victory for the First Amendment and religious freedom!
&mdash; Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/1541428787635752962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Coach Kennedy

‘Religious Liberty Prevailed!’: Conservatives Respond To Supreme Court Ruling In Favor Of Praying Football Coach

'Religious Liberty Prevailed!': Conservatives Respond To Supreme Court Ruling In Favor Of Praying Football Coach

First Amendment

Sports Illustrated didn&#8217;t wait for the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s pending opinion to blast a high school football coach Joe Kennedy who sued after being suspended and later fired for praying for 15 seconds on the football field after a game.
Joe Kennedy had served for years as an assistant coach for the Bremerton High School (BHS) varsity football team in the state of Washington. He had taken a knee and prayed briefly after every game since 2008; after several games, students asked if they could join him and even asked if players from the opposing teams could join them.
“This is a free country. &#8230; You can do what you want,” Kennedy told them, as <a href="https://firstliberty.org/cases/coachkennedy/#simple1">First Liberty</a>, which represents Kennedy, noted.
In 2015, after an employee from another high school mentioned Kennedy praying to the BHS principal, an administrator mentioned their disapproval to Kennedy, prompting him to write on Facebook “I think I just might have been fired for praying.”
In September 2015, the district set new guidelines for Kennedy, saying he could “engage in religious activity, including prayer, so long as it does not interfere with job responsibilities,” the activity was ““physically separate from any student activity, and students (are) not  &#8230; allowed to join such activity.”
The district added that ““such activity should either be non-demonstrative (i.e. not outwardly discernible as religious activity) if students are also engaged in religious conduct, or it should occur while students are not engaging in such conduct.”
Kennedy stopped having group prayers. After the next game ended, he waited until everyone had left the game, then returned to the field and prayed alone.
By late October, after Kennedy had gone back-and-forth with the district about him praying on the field, the district placed Kennedy on administrative leave.
Kennedy and First Liberty filed suit in 2016 asking the district to allow him to coach while the case went through the courts; the district refused.
The District Court, then the Ninth Circuit, denied the request. In January 2022, the Supreme Court decided to hear the case.
<a href="https://www.si.com/high-school/2022/06/13/fear-over-scotus-ruling-in-public-school-coach-prayer-case-daily-cover">Sports Illustrated</a> wrote that those backing Kennedy have a more nefarious purpose, claiming that he is a “human embodiment of a country that’s deeply divided; a religious movement that’s surging with momentum, even as organized religion becomes increasingly less popular; and, most of all, a powerful right-wing machine many say is employing a timeless division tactic: us vs. them.”
SI quotes the lead lawyer for Bremerton School District and the president/CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Rachel Laser, writing, “That’s what this case is about. A movement that is so determined they are not willing to stop. They are willing to destroy our democracy to achieve their ends.”
Laser and three scholars argue that the supposed “movement” ‘is backed by a billion-dollar industry that brands its argument not under ‘Christian nationalism but the more palatable ‘religious freedom.’” SI writes, adding that “Laser (and three scholars) say that’s part of the disinformation campaign.”
Laser says some of the groups that have filed an amicus brief supporting Kennedy represent a “who’s who of religious extremists in this country.”
“If/when SCOTUS rules for him (Kennedy), it will add steam to a movement that threatens to force religious views—no matter how unpopular or ethically dubious—and alter the lives of those who don’t practice that specific faith,” SI pontificates.
“Does Kennedy know? Does he care?” SI mocks. “Or did he evolve to embrace playing the ‘hero,’ and having this large of a purpose? Maybe the political operatives who stood with him found the perfect mark, a man in search of a calling, a grand stage. &#8230;  this saga of faith-and-football now reads like Kennedy’s own Christian football movie. He’s the hero. He wins, and for everyone on his side.”

Christians Gather At Supreme Court To Pray As Bremerton Case Is Heard

Sports Illustrated Slams Right-Wing Christians Supporting HS Football Coach Fired After Praying On Field

Sports Illustrated Mocks Right-Wing Christians Supporting HS Football Coach Fired After Praying On Field

Christianity

Sports Illustrated

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