A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against a Texas bill requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, citing First Amendment violations. The ruling follows similar setbacks in other states like Arkansas and Louisiana, where similar laws were also struck down. The judge emphasized that the law lacked secular purpose and disproportionately favored Christian denominations, violating constitutional protections.
Judge Fred Biery, a Clinton appointee, ruled that the Republican-led legislature could not demonstrate a tradition of public schools posting the Ten Commandments, which was needed for the bill to withstand court precedents. Biery noted that while the language in Texas’ legislation excluded any religious purposes, lawmakers were vocal about its intent, with quotes from state lawmakers clearly indicating a predominantly religious objective when passing the bill.
The decision aligns with previous rulings where the Supreme Court rejected the idea of public schools posting religious texts in classrooms, as seen in the 1980 Stone v. Graham case. This ruling reinforces the principle that government actions must remain neutral toward religion, even as debates over religious expression in public institutions continue.
Lawmakers in Texas, led by State Senator Phil King, argued that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms was a way to educate students about historical and religious traditions. However, the judge found that the bill’s intent was largely religious, with quotes from King highlighting the desire to ‘have every kid… read those words… because we want them to understand how important those statements of God… are.’ This sentiment has been echoed by other states attempting similar laws, raising concerns about the separation of church and state in public education.
Legal experts note that this ruling is part of a broader trend of judicial scrutiny over religiously motivated legislation. The case also draws parallels to previous decisions in Arkansas and Louisiana, where courts have similarly ruled against state laws mandating the display of religious texts in public schools. These rulings underscore the importance of maintaining secular public education and the constitutional safeguards against government endorsement of religion.