Faith leaders challenge Texas law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms | Education News

The complaint alleges that a law demanding the religious text violates the “fundamental principles of religious freedom” in the United States.

A group of religious leaders in the United States has filed a legal action aimed at preventing the state of Texas from demanding the ten commandments, as detailed in the Old Testament of the Bible, poster In public classrooms.

Their judicial dispute on Tuesday comes only a few days after the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, signed the legislation, which would make Texas the greatest state of the country to impose such a requirement.

In the trial, the Christian and Muslims religious leaders argue that the law would submit nearly six million students in the 9,100 public schools in Texas to “religious mandates, each school day”.

“This is completely incompatible with the fundamental principles of religious freedom … on which our nation was founded,” said the trial.

He also noted that children who frequent public schools in Texas “follow various confessions and religions, or do not practice any religion”.

The American Constitution protects the right of practice – or not from practice – a religion without interference from the government.

Meanwhile, the concept of “separation of the Church and the State” has long been considered a principle of foundation in American law. Although it was not directly mentioned in the American Constitution, its roots were retraced during the American colonial period.

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the country, used the expression to discuss the establishment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from making laws “respecting a creation of religion”. The concept was also confirmed by several decisions of the Supreme Court.

However, a handful of states led by conservatives have sought to adopt laws Blend Public education with elements of the Christian religion.

In 2024, Louisiana became the first state of the United States to exhibit the ten commandments in public schools. Last week, a federal court of appeal blocked the requirement.

Arkansas also adopted a similar law in April, which several groups say they plan to challenge.

Supporters of this type of law maintain that the ten commandments have a historical meaning beyond their religious context and are fundamental for American society.

A Texas Bill sponsor, Candy Noble, said that the obligation to show the ten commandments concerns “what is historically important for our educational and judicial nation”.

In the biblical account, the ten commandments were paraded on two stones tablets and given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. Moses then received the investigation to spread teaching.

Commandments include rules such as “you will not kill” and “you will not steal”, as well as the prohibitions against the other gods, taking “the name of the Lord in vain” and not honor the day of the Sabbath.

Texas law obliges public schools to display a poster or copy framed by an English version of commandments, which should not be less than 16 by 20 inches or 41 per 51 centimeters.

Translations and interpretations, however, vary from a confession, confessions and languages ​​and can differ in houses and worship homes.

Several other groups have also promised to challenge the law. They include the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the United Americans for the separation of the Church and the State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

In a statement in May, the groups said that the law “is religiously coercive and interferes with families to direct religious education for children”.