Supreme Court bolsters religious rights, sides with former football coach who lost his job after repeatedly praying on the field following games

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a former public high school football coach who lost his job after praying on the field after games.

The Washington state-based school district is accused of violating Joe Kennedy's First Amendment rights by asking him not to pray at the 50 yard line after football games.

In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that the Constitution and the best of our traditions mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and non religious views alike.

Three justices dissented.

The 6-3 ruling by the court's conservative majority protects and bolsters religious rights. The court struck down the Maine program because it was discrimination.

The lawyers for the school district asked Kennedy to pray alone and not with students in order to avoid being pressured to join in prayer. The school district said Kennedy could return to the field to pray after students and other people left the area.

According to a legal brief, Kennedy was told that he was free to engage in religious activity, including prayer, if it didn't interfere with his job duties.

Kennedy's conduct could be seen as a government endorsement of religion according to the school district.

Kennedy and his counsel continued to say that the only acceptable outcome would be for Kennedy to carry on as he pleased despite numerous calls from the district.

The coach claimed that he didn't care if students joined Kennedy in prayer. One student said he joined in the prayer because he was afraid of losing playing time if he didn't join his coach in the prayer.

Kennedy was put on leave because he ignored the district's requests. Kennedy's case was taken up by the Supreme Court after several lower courts dismissed his legal challenges.