Arizona athletes, coaches react after Supreme Court rules in favor of coach praying with team

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — The U.S. Supreme Court docket voted 6-3 Monday in favor of a highschool soccer coach who appreciated to wish along with his gamers after video games. All six conservative justices sided with the coach from the state of Washington, whose quiet prayer ritual grew into a significant occasion on the 50-yard line, with gamers becoming a member of in whereas the gang was nonetheless within the stands.

The college district mentioned it by no means restricted the coach from providing silent prayer and prompt an alternate place to wish off the sector. However the coach refused and was later fired.

Former Pinnacle Excessive Faculty baseball participant Nick Frat mentioned he’s been on a number of groups the place they’ve prayed earlier than and after video games. “We’re praying for good well being,” mentioned Frat. “Praying for day to verify everybody will get on and off the sector OK and has an important day whereas we’re on the market.”

Rex Gonzalez runs the T-Rex Baseball Membership in Scottsdale. He additionally coaches at a Valley Highschool. Gonzalez mentioned he has no downside with coaches main their staff in prayer, simply so long as they make clear that everybody doesn’t must take part. “I do know with our membership groups, there’s been instances thatteams wish to do a prayer at residence plate,” mentioned Gonzalez. “I at all times have a look at gamers and go, you’re greater than welcome to do it. Don’t really feel like it’s important to, that’s plain and easy so long as its not pushing it down folks’ throat.”

“I believe it’s simply our given proper as Americans, we should always have First Modification proper to wish or not,” mentioned Gonzalez.

However not everybody agrees with the Supreme Court docket’s determination. A number of mother and father say it’s not so simple as simply providing college students an opportunity to decide out of a staff prayer. They declare that simply having the prayer in any respect places real-life stress on college students to take part. In addition they say it will possibly make student-athletes really feel like they need to take part, or they might lose enjoying time.

Ben Rundall with ACLU AZ mentioned It’s one thing college students shouldn’t must take care of at a public faculty. “I believe by elevating the rights of faculty officers expressing non secular opinions, it type of begs the query, ‘What about non secular rights of scholars? What about their proper to be free from this type of affect within the public schooling setting?”’ mentioned Rundall. “They don’t have these rights anymore, as of as we speak’s determination.”

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