In the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court granted the right for a football coach to lead a public prayer with his players after games.

As a priest, I am deeply troubled by this. For many reasons. But the greatest is this: Prayer should never be coercive.

No child should feel that they have to pray. Ever. But most especially given the long history of Protestant Christians using precisely these methods to exclude non-Protestant Christians. And more specifically, non-evangelical Protestant Christians.

Prayer has been weaponized against women, LGBTQ+, children, the disabled, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, agnostics, Native Americans, etc. for many, many years. And the Court has the audacity to pretend none of this would count.

It also chose to pretend that none of the coach’s other behavior counts. When determining the constitutionality of public prayer. At a school function.

It is beyond incredulous. It is laughable. And obscene.

This is no victory for religion or faith. Christians should be appalled at this decision. Appalled that anyone would use prayer in this way. Prayer for football victories is already bad enough.

We dare not call something a matter of true religious liberty if it impedes on the religious liberty of others. The first amendment cannot actually protect that. But a bully mindset doesn’t really care what others think.

And it would seem that they don’t even care what God thinks.