The Supreme Court ponders the right to pray on the 50-yard line

The parties included this image of Coach Kennedy, praying with the crowd after the homecoming game, in their joint appendix submitted to the Supreme Court. (Court filings)

The U.S. Supreme Court jumps back into the culture wars Monday in a case that involves a football coach’s asserted right to kneel and pray on the 50-yard line at the conclusion of a public school football game.

Joseph Kennedy, a coach for the Bremerton, Wash., High School Varsity and JV football teams began praying with his players before and after games in 2008. At the end of a game, he would take a knee and say a prayer with his players at midfield.

By the 2015 season, Kennedy was often joined at the 50-yard line as well by players from the opposing team. Indeed, it was an approving comment by an opposing coach that finally alerted school district officials to the practice.