OK to Pray for Paris But We Suspend a Football Coach for Praying After a Game?

[Christians4LessGvt]

NFL Player:
It's OK to Pray for Paris But We Suspend a Football Coach for Praying After a Game?

Nov 16, 2015



After the tragic terrorist attack in Paris that took the lives of 132 people, more than 70 million people from more than 200 countries took to Instagram to share their prayers for Paris, with #prayforparis as the No. 1 trending hashtag for most of the weekend. The great thing is, it's a normative response to any and all tragedies. But when prayer is done publicly apart from times of national sorrow and distress, all of a sudden it's problematic.

New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson took to social media to point out the hypocrisy in this.

Watson was of course referring to Joe Kennedy, a Washington state high school football coach who refused to comply with district orders to stop praying on the field after games.

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[Xavier_Onassis]

Hell, even Jess spoke out against praying in public.

He can pray anywhere but in public, so why not do so?  Does he think Jeezus will not hear him unless he makes a public spectacle of it?

He was warned, and so tough shit. He blew it. Maybe Oral Roberts U needs a coach.

[sirs]

He can pray anywhere but in public

Did you not just grasp the tyranny of what you just proclaimed??  Since when is a the most coveted, fundamental right to be an American shelved to a point where it can/should only be done in private??

[Xavier_Onassis]

Where is the right for public employees to pray in public places before an audience granted by the Constitution?
Nowhere.

That is a violation of the clause prohibiting the establishment of a religion.

Suppose he played for the NFL. Would the NFL have the right to tell him to keep his prayers off the field? I bet they would.

What can't he just pray in the locker room, or anywhere other than in public view?
God is supposedly omnipresent.

Jesus preached against praying in public.

 

[sirs]

Where is the right for public employees to pray in public places before an audience granted by the Constitution?
Nowhere.

A), that's not what you proclaimed.....you clearly stated He can pray anywhere but in public

B) Regardless of his employment status, when praying, he is in no way trying to either establish a religion or trying to convert anyone on the tax payer's dime.  THAT's what the 1st amendment to the Constitution is all about.  You should try reading it some time

[Xavier_Onassis]

The Constitution is against a public employee praying at a public event. That violates the establishment of religion clause.

Personally, I do not care where he prays.
Prayer is essentially talking to oneself.

But it is illegal and if he takes the case to court, he will lose.

[sirs]

Like I said...you need to read the Constitution.

Lemme help: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Did you get that??  1 person, regardless of their employment status, who prays, is in NO WAY ESTABLISHING ANY RELIGION.  He is merely exercising his 1st amendment right TO PRAY, that the GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT PROHIBIT

So NO, the Constitution is NOT against a public employee praying.....especially if its open to the public.  That's the foundation of freedom, and not illegal, in any way, shape, or form

[Xavier_Onassis]

So let the mutha take it to court and sue. As I said, I care not whether he prays or not. I was simply explaining the rationale for why they suspended him.

He is praying in a government owned place on the government's nickel.  He was told not to do this, and so they suspended him. Why does he need to pray in public? Is God not everywhere?

[sirs]

Apparently you do care, since it was you proclaiming how He can pray anywhere but in public  Being told by the Government to not do something that is a Constitutional right, doesn't make that action moral or even legal. 

It's no business of anyone if he does pray in public.  He's not trying to convert anyone on the tax payer's nickel (which shouldn't be confused with the Government's nickel, since the Government has no nickel, outside of what they take from the citizens and criminals).  So, this has nothing to do with "need" and everything to do with freedom