AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A coalition of families and faith leaders from the Dallas area has initiated a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the enforcement of a recent Texas law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, asserts that this legislative measure constitutes an unconstitutional infringement on the principle of separation of church and state.
This initiative makes Texas the latest and most significant state attempting to impose such a mandate, following similar measures that have faced legal resistance in other jurisdictions. For instance, a federal appeals court recently blocked a comparable law in Louisiana, while families in Arkansas have taken legal action against their state's version of the Ten Commandments requirement.
The plaintiffs in the Texas suit comprise a diverse group, including Christians and representatives from the Nation of Islam, who collectively argue against the law. The defendants named in the lawsuit include the Texas Education Agency, the state's education Commissioner Mike Morath, and three school districts in the Dallas area. In their court filing, the plaintiffs emphasize the separation of governmental authority and religious institutions, stating, "The government should govern; the Church should minister. Anything else is a threat to the soul of both our democracy and our faith."
The push for displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools is part of a broader trend seen in predominantly conservative states where there are ongoing efforts to integrate religious elements into the educational framework. Supporters of this law argue that the Ten Commandments represent foundational principles in the United States' judicial and educational systems and advocate for their display in classrooms.
The legislative move, championed by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, was signed into law on June 21. In addition to the Ten Commandments requirement, Abbott has also authorized a provision permitting school districts to offer students and staff a daily voluntary period for prayer or reading religious texts during school hours.
Opponents of the Ten Commandments and prayer measures contend that these laws infringe upon the religious freedoms of individuals from various faiths, with additional lawsuits anticipated. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have vowed to take legal action against the Ten Commandments law.
As per the provisions of the new law, all public schools are mandated to display a poster or a framed copy of a specific English version of the Ten Commandments, measuring no less than 16-by-20 inches (41-by-51 centimeters). This requirement poses challenges due to the existence of various translations and interpretations of the commandments across different faiths, denominations, and linguistic backgrounds, which may not align with the expectations set forth in the law.
In Texas, where approximately 6 million students attend about 9,100 public schools, many of these students may belong to faiths with little or no connection to the Ten Commandments or may identify as non-religious. The Texas Education Agency has not provided an immediate response to inquiries regarding the lawsuit. While the new law is slated to take effect on September 1, a significant number of public school districts are expected to commence the upcoming academic year in August.
