Perhaps it’s the timing of the decision, coming on the heels of the controversial rescission of abortion rights that were given under Roe v. Wade, but reaction to the Supreme Court’s June 27 ruling on religious freedoms on tax-supported property might be a bit extreme.
The court, in its predictable 6-3 ruling along political lines, ruled that Bremerton, Washington, High School football coach Joseph Kennedy was protected by the First Amendment when he knelt to pray on the 50-yard line following a game.
Critics of the decision have expressed outrage, and alleged that the coach’s position could place unreasonable pressure on others to show respect to the religious act, even if they don’t agree with it. Apparently, that wasn’t the case, however.
In the majority decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Kennedy knelt “during a period when school employees were free to speak with a friend, call for a reservation at a restaurant, check email, or attend to other personal matters,” and “while students were otherwise occupied.”
“The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship an suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,” the ruling states.
The decision obviously invokes an important but often ignored continuation of the First Amendment reference to religion. While it holds that government can take no action regarding the establishment of religion, it also bans any prohibition of the free exercise of religion.
In this case Bremerton did nothing to endorse Kennedy’s religious act. No tax funds were spent to keep the stadium open while the coach prayed; apparently, fans were still leaving the stands, teams were gathering equipment and players were showering and changing, celebrating a victory or mourning a loss.
Truth be told, Kennedy’s action often is repeated throughout the Rio Grande Valley, and often it’s even without any coach’s involvement. Players themselves — from both teams — gather at in the middle of the field or court for a quick invocation.
For many observers it’s a heartwarming show of unity from players, trainers and others, who moments earlier had faced off in possibly bitter competition.
Despite the vocal outrage that has been heard since the ruling was made public, many schools and other public entities already recognized that people have a right to express their beliefs, religious and otherwise. Students at schools across the country, including here in the Valley, participate in the annual See You at the Pole prayer event in which they gather to pray around the flagpole before or after classes.
Whether students are gathered around the pole or coaches are taking a knee at the 50, the free exercise of religion is a right that should not be abridged anymore than the practice of any religion can be coerced. Either is an intrusion on personal freedoms protected by the First Amendment.
Rather than offend those who might not have personal religious interest, post-game invocations show the kind of unity and cooperation that is needed to build communities. We should be heartened, not offended, by such unity, regardless of our own beliefs.
