The Louisiana Ten Commandments law is now being challenged by families in the state with children in public seminaries.
The controversial law, known as HB 71, mandates that every public school, from kindergarten to the collegiate level, must display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document at least 11 inches by 14 inches in size.
The legal challenge comes from a unified group of families in Louisiana that come from different religious backgrounds. These are families from Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious groups of communities with children in public schools.
Louisiana Families Sue Over Ten Commandments Mandate
The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday, argues that the law violates the U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
The complainants point to the Stone v. Graham case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the separation of church and state prevents public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The nine families involved in the suit, representing Jewish, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious backgrounds, claim that the law constitutes religious coercion and infringes upon their First Amendment rights.
The complaint asserts that permanently displaying the Ten Commandments in every public academy classroom in Louisiana, making them necessary, unlawfully coerces scholars into religious observance, reverence, and acceptance of the state-endorsed religious textbook.
It further contends that this practice communicates a dangerous and divisive message, suggesting that pupils who don't stick to the Ten Commandments-or specifically the interpretation commanded by HB 71-are not part of the school community and should suppress any faith practices or beliefs that differ from the state's religious preferences.
Supporters Defend HB 71 as a Moral Code
Backers of HB 71, including its primary sponsor, Republican state Rep. Dodie Horton, argue that the law isn't about promoting a particular religion but about teaching a moral law.
Horton said during an April hail that the display of the commandments in public schools isn't preaching the Christian religion, and he believes that it isn't preaching any religion. However, the display is training a moral law.
The law also emphasizes the literal significance of the Ten Commandments, suggesting that they reflect the understanding of the authors of the nation with respect to the necessity of communal morality for a functional self-government.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry echoed this sentiment, stating that if people want to follow the rule of law, people should start with the original legislator, which was Moses, during the press conference where he inked the bill.
Implementation and Future Implications
The bill is part of Governor Landry's "Dream Big" education plan, which aims to bring back common sense in classrooms across the state.
Public schools in Louisiana have until January 2025 to display the commanded bills, which will be funded through private donations rather than state dollars. The law doesn't specify the consequences for schools that fail to comply with the mandate.
Despite the controversy, Rep. Horton declined to comment on the proceeding. Requests for comment from Governor Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill haven't yet been returned.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outgrowth of this case could have significant counterarguments for the separation of church and state in public seminaries across the nation.
