Religious rights have some limits, but God does not. God knows even our thoughts. Jesus called those whose prayers just had to be done aloud and in public “hypocrites” since their prayers were for everyone else to see and hear. Prayer is intended to have an audience of One. That’s why Jesus went on to say that these folks should go into their private closets to pray.

It is the religion Establishment Clause of the Bill of Rights (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”) that forbids a school district employee from leading students in prayer. Even if the students are not invited to participate, when the employee prays out loud in front of them, on school district property, that is leading.

Why does a football coach find it necessary to pray out loud after a game, on the field, with his out-of-state attorneys’ encouragement? Why take the spotlight off the students and onto himself? He has every right to believe and practice his religion. Silent prayer on district property is not outlawed, and God hears those prayers.

The coach’s ignorance of the implication of federal law and local policy does not give him a pass to resume this practice, since this has been thoroughly explained to him.

This is not about persecution. It is about grandstanding to draw attention to himself. Fellow Christians should not encourage this behavior.

Linda Thomson,

Belfair.