Key Takeaways:
- A federal appeals court ruled that Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional.
- The ruling upholds the separation of church and state and stops the law from being enforced.
- Civil liberties groups celebrated the decision, calling it a win for religious freedom and public education.
- Similar legal battles are ongoing in Arkansas and Texas over identical laws.
Federal Court Rules Against Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law
A federal appeals court recently ruled that a Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom is unconstitutional. The law, set to take effect in June 2024, would have mandated that the religious text be posted in all classrooms across the state.
The court’s decision sided with civil liberties groups, who argued that the law violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of separation between church and state. Critics claimed that displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools would make students from non-Christian backgrounds feel excluded and pressured to conform to a specific religion.
Heather L. Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), called the ruling a “resounding victory” for public education and religious freedom. “Public schools are not Sunday schools,” Weaver said, emphasizing that schools must remain welcoming to students of all faiths.
The Legal Battle in Louisiana
The legal battle began when parents of Louisiana students from various religious backgrounds filed a lawsuit against the law. They argued that forcing children to view a religious document in a public-school setting violated their rights to religious freedom.
U.S. District Judge John deGravelles previously ruled the law unconstitutional, ordering state education officials to stop enforcing it. However, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill disagreed with the decision, claiming it only applied to the five school districts involved in the lawsuit. She announced plans to appeal the ruling.
Similar Battles in Other States
Louisiana is not the only state grappling with this issue. Earlier this month, a group of Arkansas families filed a federal lawsuit against a nearly identical law passed in their state. The law, approved by Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in April, will require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools, universities, and taxpayer-funded buildings starting in August. Parents involved in the lawsuit argue that the law forces religion on children and families.
In Texas, the legislature recently approved a Ten Commandments bill, though no legal challenges have been reported yet. Meanwhile, in a separate case, an appeals court ruled that a two-and-a-half-ton Ten Commandments monument in the Alabama State Judicial Building violated the Establishment Clause. The court said the display created an “unavoidable” religious message.
What’s Next?
The ruling in Louisiana sets a precedent for other states considering similar laws. It reinforces the principle that public schools must remain neutral on religious matters to ensure all students feel included, regardless of their beliefs.
While the legal battle in Louisiana may not be over yet, civil liberties groups are hopeful that the ruling will discourage other states from passing similar laws. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the question of where to draw the line between religion and public education remains a contentious issue in America.