Texas has passed a new law requiring all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, making it the largest state in the nation to implement such a mandate. Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law, which is expected to face legal challenges from critics who argue that it violates the separation of church and state. Similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas have been met with legal challenges and deemed unconstitutional.
The Texas measure, which easily passed in the Republican-controlled state House and Senate, aims to emphasize the historical significance of the commandments to the nation educationally and judicially. Supporters argue that the commandments are foundational to the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed in schools. In addition to the commandments, Texas lawmakers have also passed a bill allowing school districts to offer a voluntary period of prayer or time for reading religious texts during school hours.
Opponents, including some Christian and other faith leaders, believe that these measures infringe on religious freedom, especially for students of other faiths who may not have a connection to the Ten Commandments. In previous legal battles, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott successfully defended the display of a Ten Commandments monument at the state capitol. Louisiana’s similar law has been deemed unconstitutional by federal courts, with the state attorney general vowing to appeal to the US Supreme Court if necessary.
