A new law signed in Louisiana mandates that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom in public schools and colleges, making it the only state with such a requirement. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, stipulates that all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities must have a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in large, easily readable font by next year.
Civil liberties groups are planning lawsuits to challenge the law, arguing that it violates protections against government-imposed religion. Critics, including educators like Chris Dier, fear that the display could send a message of religious preference and isolation to students.
State officials defend the law by emphasizing the historical significance of the Ten Commandments, calling them foundational documents of both state and national government. Attorney Gen. Liz Murrill, a Republican ally of Landry, asserts that the commandments are essential to the country's foundations.
Similar bills proposing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms have been introduced in other states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah. However, past legal challenges, including a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a 2005 decision, have found such displays to violate the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Louisiana has a history of church-state legal battles, including a 1987 Supreme Court ruling against a state statute requiring the teaching of creation science alongside evolution. Other states, like Mississippi and Alabama, have also mandated religious displays in schools and public buildings.
The controversy over the display of the Ten Commandments reflects broader debates about the role of religion in government institutions. While Jews and Christians view the commandments as divine laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai, interpretations and phrasing vary among different traditions.
The recent Louisiana law adds to the ongoing discussion about the intersection of religion and public education, with legal challenges expected to test its constitutionality.
