Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/18-1195_g314.pdf
Page Number: 30.0

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

5 

THOMAS, J., concurring 

F. 3d 344, 354 (CA1 2004); post, at 5–8 (BREYER, J., dissent-
ing); post, at 9–10 (SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting). 

The Court has also repeatedly stated that a government
has  a  compelling  interest  in  avoiding  an  Establishment 
Clause violation altogether, which “may justify” abridging 
other First Amendment freedoms.  See Good News Club v. 
Milford  Central  School,  533  U. S.  98,  112  (2001);  Lamb’s 
Chapel  v.  Center  Moriches  Union  Free  School  Dist.,  508 
U. S. 384, 394 (1993); Widmar v. Vincent, 454 U. S. 263, 271 
(1981).  Unsurprisingly, governmental employers have re-
lied on these pronouncements to defeat challenges from em-
ployees  who  alleged  violations  of  their  First  Amendment 
rights.  See, e.g., Berry v. Department of Social Servs., 447 
F. 3d 642, 650–651 (CA9 2006); Knight v. Connecticut Dept. 
of Public Health, 275 F. 3d 156, 166 (CA2 2001); Marchi v. 
Board of Cooperative Ed. Servs. of Albany, 173 F. 3d 469, 
475 (CA2 1999).

Finally, this Court’s infamous test in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 
403  U. S.  602  (1971),  has  sometimes  been  understood  to 
prohibit governmental practices that have the effect of en-
dorsing religion.  See Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U. S. 668, 692 
(1984)  (O’Connor,  J.,  concurring).    This,  too,  presupposes 
that  the  Establishment  Clause  prohibits  the  government 
from favoring religion or taking steps to promote it.  But as 
described  supra,  at  2–3,  the  Establishment  Clause  does 
nothing of the sort.  The concern with avoiding endorsement 
has nevertheless been used to prohibit voluntary practices 
that potentially implicate free exercise rights, with courts
and governments going so far as to make the “remarkable”
suggestion “that even while off duty, a teacher or coach can-
not engage in any outward manifestation of religious faith.” 
Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist., 586 U. S. ___, ___ (2019) 
(slip op., at 5) (ALITO, J., concurring in denial of certiorari); 
see Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe, 530 U. S. 290, 
308 (2000) (voluntary decision to begin football games with