The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects our right to freedom of religion. The First Amendment protects that right by prohibiting government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.”

This clause, known as the Establishment Clause, not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibiting government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It even prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion.

Being tested today in Bremerton: Whether a school employee leading or joining students in prayer on school property during a school-sponsored event — in this case, Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy and his players on the field after a game — constitutes school favoritism of one religion over another.

While we applaud Coach Kennedy, a Christian, for his courage and his faith, here are some concerns we have about this issue.

The U.S. Supreme Court states in its decision, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 2000, “School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible because it sends the ancillary message to members of the audience who are nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community.”

It can be argued that unless all players share the same faith, that post-game prayer as it is currently conducted could send an ancillary message to those who don’t share that faith or choose to participate that they “are outsiders,” and an accompanying message to those who share the same faith that they “are insiders.”

There is an alternative, one that is inclusive, respects all faiths, and has been accepted by states and courts across the country: At the end of the game, let those who wish to participate join in a moment of silence. A moment of silence, one writer wrote, “contains no statements or assumptions concerning beliefs and requires no understanding of language to interpret, [and] it is more easily accepted and used than a spoken prayer or observance when persons of different religious and cultural backgrounds participate together.”

It’s a simple, immediate and peaceful resolution. And in observing a moment of silence together, we will elevate our humanity. And that’s something people of all faiths can be thankful for.