By Lacey McNeil, First Liberty Institute communications SEATTLE, Wash. - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied football coach Joe Kennedy’s request for a hearing en banc. Attorneys with First Liberty Institute represent Coach Kennedy. “It is disappointing that the Ninth Circuit would refuse to hear Coach Kennedy’s case en banc, especially in light of the extreme, far-reaching opinion issued by the three-judge panel,” said Mike Berry, Deputy General Counsel for First Liberty, after the decision was handed down . “If this decision is allowed to stand, Jewish teachers can be fired for wearing a yarmulke in sight of students, Catholic teachers are at risk if they wear a crucifix, and Muslim teachers may face discrimination for wearing a hijab to work.” In August, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit held that a school district in Washington state could fire Coach Kennedy because he silently prayed alone for 15 to 30 seconds following football games. “Banning all coaches from praying just because they can be seen is wrong and contradicts the Constitution,” said Kelly Schackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty. “We will keep fighting on behalf of Coach Kennedy until his religious liberties are … [Read more...]

By U.S. Sen. John Kennedy WASHINGTON (LBM) - For me, the definition of marriage is pretty simple.  It’s the union of a man and a woman.  It’s what the Bible teaches us, and it’s what I believe. Air Force Col. Leland B. H. Bohannon also believes marriage is a union between a man and a woman.  Unfortunately, he’s paying a heavy price for that belief.  He lost his command position at Kirkland Air Force Base and a promotion. Our nation was founded by people fleeing religious persecution.  They left their homes and crossed an ocean in search of religious tolerance.  Now we’ve become a nation intolerant of religious tolerance. We’ve forgotten the principles that form the bedrock of our democracy. Here’s what happened to Col. Bohannon. Col. Bohannon was commander of the Air Force Inspection Agency at Kirkland Air Force Base.  He holds the Bronze Star for his services in Afghanistan, making him an American hero. Last year, Col. Bohannon signed a series of certificates for a retiring master sergeant.  One certificate troubled him.  It was a certificate of spouse appreciation for the same sex spouse of the retiring master sergeant. Col. Bohannon is a religious man and a respectful man.  The certificate – which wasn’t … [Read more...]