In a surprising twist, the normally superficial Good Morning America devoted an entire story to religious liberty. Even more amazing, this two minute and 51 segment aired in the 8am hour. This air time on ABC is usually reserved for cat videos and reality TV stars. But co-host Robin Roberts explained the story of the high school football coach who has “been told to stop praying with students on the field or he could get fired. But he's not backing down.”
Bremerton, Washington coach Joe Kennedy prays with students at the 50 yard line after each game. Reporter Neil Karlinsky relayed, “A month ago the school district says it told the coach to stop writing ‘talks with students may not include religious expression including prayer.’ And that to do so would ‘violate the law.’"
Karlkinsky even included a conservative voice in the segment defending Kennedy:
NEIL KARLINSKY: A conservative group called the Liberty Institute is now taking up his cause threatening to sue the school district, saying the coach has every right to practice his faith.
HIRAM SASSER (Liberty Institute): Private citizens on their own time have a right to practice their faith and we think it's very important at Liberty Institute to protect that constitutional right.
The show’s hosts mostly tried to refrain from opining on the case. Roberts offered this back-handed compliment to Kennedy: “Some coaches are accused of telling their players to rough up the referee.” “At least he’s not” doing that, she noted. George Stephanopoulos agreed that this was “a little bit different.”
A transcript of the October 16 GMA segment is below:
8:11
ROBIN ROBERTS: It is time now for our Heat Index and this morning's hot button, football and faith. The high school coach feeling the heat of those Friday night lights. He's been told to stop praying with students on the field or he could get fired. But he's not backing down. ABC's Neal Karlinsky has his story.
NEIL KARLINSKY: This morning, Bremerton high school football coach Joe Kennedy says he plans to put his job on the line, not because of anything he'll do during tonight's game. But this —
CROWD: Amen.
KARLINSKY: The prayer he plans to lead on the 50 yard line after the game, something he says he's done for nine years.
JOE KENNEDY: From there there was --- it started out with three guys and it just started growing from there and every year it's grown a little bit more, a little bit more.
KARLINSKY: A month ago, the school district says it told the coach to stop writing “talks with students may not include religious expression, including prayer.” And that to do so would “violate the law.”
JOE KENNEDY (football coach): I don't understand how this could be wrong. I'm not establishing religion. I'm not preachy with anybody.
KARLINSKY: The district says students are welcome to pray. It just can't be at the direction of a school employee.
KENNEDY: It's that mutual respect. They know where I stand but I've never asked them about theirs because it has no bearing on what we do on the football field.
KARLINSKY: Even so, many of the school's students and even their parents have come out to actively support the coach.
WOMAN: We believe that he shouldn't lose his job for what he practices at the end of the game.
KARLINSKY: Kennedy says he never required his athletes to pray and only meant to motivate them, something he's done in a strictly secular way since the district warned him. A conservative group called the Liberty Institute is now taking up his cause threatening to sue the school district, saying the coach has every right to practice his faith.
HIRAM SASSER (Liberty Institute): Private citizens on their own time have a right to practice their faith and we think it's very important at Liberty Institute to protect that constitutional right.
KARLINSKY: And so he now plans to pray with his players after tonight's game, whether the school allows it or not.
KENNEDY: From the very beginning that I've done, we go out to the 50 and I'm going to thank the lord for the young men that participated and blessing me with this group of guys.
KARLINSKY: For Good morning America, Neal Karlinsky, ABC news, Bremerton, Washington.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: These issues always so controversial.
ROBERTS: Yeah, they are and he's been doing it for nine years and I understand what they're saying about the rules being such and maybe it was before it was so informal and —
AMY ROBACH: So many people now are on that 50 yard line.
ROBERTS: So they're saying if a kid does it it's okay but if a coach —
STEPHANOPOULOS: Someone in authority. Coach or teacher.
ROBERTS: But at least he’s not — Some coaches are accused of telling their players to rough up the referee.
LARA SPENCER: We've seen that, as well.
STEPHANOPOULOS: A little bit different.
