A bill that would allow public school teachers and staff to participate in prayer at school has cleared the Kentucky House.

Representative Chris Feelgood is the sponsor of House Bill 547.

He said the bill is needed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Kentucky football coach who was sued for praying at the 50 yard line after games.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an opinion.

Respect for religious freedom expressions is indispensable to life in a free and diverse republic.

Whether those expressions take place in a sanctuary or on a field, and whether they manifest through the spoken word or a bowed head.

House Bill 547 ensures that the faculty that they have, they are free to express their faith.

They may sponsor student religious activities and they are protected from coercion and threats by government officials.

David Walls with the Family Foundation commended the House for passing the bill and a statement.

He said, quote, HB 547 helps protect against out-of-state special interest groups who demand that schools adopt inaccurate interpretations of the First Amendment that unlawfully restrict the freedom of students and teachers.

The exercise of First Amendment rights on public school campuses in Kentucky is a critical component of the education of our students and, quote, State Representative Daniel Grossberg, a Democrat from Louisville, spoke against the bill.

He said separation of church and state is essential to protect religious minorities.

This bill would provide unnecessary shields to teachers seeking to share their religious views on children without their parents permission.

No child should have to bear the burden of speaking out and demanding their school authorities interfere with what they are taught at home.

Rather, children should expect that their schools administration protect them from implied coercion.

The bill passed the full House 81 to 12 today and is now headed to the Senate for consideration there.