President Biden will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs back to the White House next Friday to celebrate the team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl, marking their second straight visit. 

The Chiefs, who were unable to attend in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic after winning the franchise’s second championship, will return to the White House after becoming back-to-back Super Bowl champions in February. 

The invitation comes amid scrutiny since Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker has faced backlash over his commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, May 11.  

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In speaking about his views as a Catholic, Butker made references to various topics, including abortion and the LGBTQ community. Speaking directly to female graduates, he spoke about the importance of being a homemaker, which he called "one of the most important titles of all." 

Butker also made reference to President Biden in his remarks when talking about "bad policies and poor leadership."

"Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally," he said in part. 

CHIEFS' TRAVIS KELCE DEFENDS HARRISON BUTKER AS 'A GREAT PERSON AND A GREAT TEAMMATE' DESPITE DIFFERING VIEWS

"He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that, I'm sure to many people, it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice. He is not alone. From the man behind the COVID lockdowns to the people pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America, they all have a glaring thing in common: they are Catholic. This is an important reminder that being Catholic alone doesn't cut it."

After the immediate reaction to his speech, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked last week if Butker would be in attendance. 

She said the entire team is invited for championship visits, but "it's up to the team who comes and who doesn't come."

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and star players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have spoken out in defense of Butker’s character as a person and a teammate this week despite admitting they may not agree with his beliefs. 

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A Christian shore town will open its beach on Sunday mornings for the first time in 155 years.

Since 1869, Ocean Grove, New Jersey, has kept its mile-long strip of Jersey Shore beach closed for religious observation until noon on Sundays.

Now, following ongoing pushback from the state of New Jersey, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA) has been ordered to open the beach.

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"For 155 years, we have closed our beach on Sunday mornings to honor God — a core pillar of this community since the founding of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association," the group wrote in a statement posted on its website. 

"Now, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is ordering us to open our privately owned beach on Sunday mornings."

The OGCMA announced that it will challenge the order "to preserve our property rights and religious freedom." 

The association wrote, "Our application for an emergent stay is pending, but we have no indication when an Order will be entered. We are currently compelled to comply with the NJDEP order to open the beach, but have not ceased nor abandoned our quest to protect our religious and property rights."

NEW JERSEY CHRISTIAN BEACH TOWN FACES PRESSURE TO STOP ITS FAITH-BASED CLOSURES ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

Ocean Grove will provide lifeguards on Sunday mornings for the safety of beachgoers, in the meantime, it said.

"We continue to do ministry by providing opportunities for spiritual birth, growth and renewal through worship, education and cultural programs," the OGCMA concluded in its statement. "As always, we welcome all to join us in ‘God’s Square Mile.’"

After finding the OGCMA to be in violation of the Coastal Area Facility Review Act, the NJDEP served the group with an administrative order in Oct. 2023 to remove the padlocks and chains from their beach site from May through September.

The agency threatened fines of $25,000 per day if Ocean Grove does not comply.

On May 21, NJDEP commissioner Shawn LaTourette denied the OGCMA’s subsequent request to stay, or halt, the order pending appeal.

NEW JERSEY SERVES VIOLATION NOTICE TO OCEAN GROVE FOR ITS SUNDAY BEACH CLOSURES:  IT'S ‘ANTI-CHRISTIAN’

"I find that OGCMA has not demonstrated that a stay of departmental enforcement of applicable public access requirements is warranted in this matter," the commissioner concluded in the legal document. 

"Accordingly, OGCMA’s request for a stay is denied."

The NJDEP declined further comment to Fox News Digital, as this "matter is in litigation."

In Aug. 2023, Ocean Grove received a letter from the NJDEP warning of this outcome.

Several protests also occurred last summer, as opposition groups trespassed onto Ocean Grove’s private beach property while it was closed for Sunday worship.

In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, former OGCMA President Michael Badger said the Sunday morning beach closure is important for furthering Ocean Grove's tradition and respecting religious observation.

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"It creates a quieter, less stressful environment," he said. "It's in keeping with the historic charm that is characteristic of Ocean Grove and differentiates us from our neighboring communities."

He also said, "There's less traffic in the streets. It's slightly easier to get parking. You don't have the Italian ice and ice cream trucks going up and down the street." 

It also grants Ocean Grove's lifeguards half a day off, he said — and allows people to attend church.

"Overall, it's improving the quality of life that benefits both secular and religious intentions," he said.

Ocean Grove has had its beach closed on Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon between Memorial Day and Labor Day for a couple of decades, Badger shared. 

Before that, the city closed its beach all day on Sundays.

OGCMA is a private, religiously affiliated nonprofit that owns the land in Ocean Grove — including the near-half-mile beach, boardwalk and pier — and is home to the longest-serving lifeguard corps in New Jersey, according to Badger.

Fox News Digital reached out to the OGCMA for further comment.

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