Texas has enacted a law requiring all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, making it a significant move in the country.
Governor Greg Abbott announced the signing of this bill on Saturday. However, it’s likely to face legal pushback from those who argue it infringes upon the separation of church and state.
A similar law in Louisiana was recently blocked by a federal court, which deemed it unconstitutional. Arkansas is also dealing with similar legal disputes regarding such laws.
The legislation passed through the Republican-controlled state Capitol with relative ease and concluded during the legislative session that wrapped up on June 2.
“The aim of this bill is to highlight historically significant educational and judicial elements for our nation,” remarked Republican president Candy Noble, who co-sponsored the measure, during its passage in the House.
Additionally, Abbott signed another bill that allows school districts to offer students and staff designated time for reading religious texts during voluntary prayer sessions or school hours.
This Ten Commandments Act represents a broader initiative to integrate religion into public education, particularly in states led by conservative leadership.
Texas law specifies that public schools must display posters measuring 16 x 20 inches in classrooms.
Supporters believe that the Ten Commandments form a cornerstone of the U.S. legal and educational systems and should be visible in schools.
However, critics—including some Christian and other faith leaders—argue that posting the Ten Commandments and promoting prayer undermines the religious liberties of others.
A letter, signed by various Christian and Jewish leaders earlier this year, expressed opposition to the bill, noting that Texas has a vast number of students from diverse religious backgrounds who may not relate to the Ten Commandments. Currently, Texas serves nearly 6 million students across about 9,100 public schools.
In 2005, when Abbott was the state attorney general, he presented arguments to the Supreme Court supporting Texas’s right to maintain a Ten Commandments memorial on the Capitol grounds.
The Louisiana law has been ruled unconstitutional on two occasions by federal courts. In Texas, the case is currently being reviewed first by U.S. District Judge John Degreveles, and subsequently by a three-judge panel in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
State Attorney General Liz Murrell has stated she will appeal, expressing intentions to elevate the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
