In June of this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 20 into law. Senate Bill 20 would require every public school classroom in the state to display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments. The mandate was met with various challenges and support from families from various religious and nonreligious backgrounds.
Some families argue that the bill violates the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects the separation of church and state and the right to free religious expression. According to US District Judge Fred Biery, “Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught…the displays are likely to pressure the child-Plaintiffs into religious observance, meditation on, veneration, and adoption of the State’s favored religious scripture, and into suppressing expression of their own religious or nonreligious background and beliefs while at school.” Judge Fred Biery argues that the bill might pressure students and families to favor a state religion while suppressing expression of their unique religious denomination.
Mr. Fillipone, a government teacher on campus, explained, “In the Constitution, establishing a state religion is unconstitutional.” He continued by stating that some may view the bill as an attempt to establish a state religion that favors a more conservative, Christian majority.
According to the Texas Tribune, “Supporters argue that the Ten Commandments and teachings of Christianity more generally are core to U.S. history, a message that has resurged in recent years as part of a broader national movement that considers the idea of church-state separation a myth.” Many believe that teachings inside the Bible are simply a moral code that the entire community would largely benefit from having present in citizens’ daily lives.
On August 20, after much debate, Judge Biery issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law in at least 11 school districts. The case is now expected to advance to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and possibly to the US Supreme Court.
With continued debate over support or opposition to the bill, it is clear that the law has sparked a broader discussion regarding education norms and the separation of church and state, which could set new precedents within our society. If the law is passed, it could encourage similar efforts in other conservative states, which are often largely Christian. Whether intentional or unintentional, the passing of bills such as this one may support the idea of religious uniformity and cause schools to begin influencing children’s religious beliefs.
When speaking to Ms. Perry, a religion teacher on campus, she explained the Catholic perspective behind the bill, saying, “It is a real tenet of our faith that nobody should be forced to believe something, that they do it by their own accord.
She added, “I think it’s not fair to students and staff who are not Christian. Even if the intent is good, I think in the long run it would cause division among people who are not Christian or Jewish.”
As Texas moves forward with the Ten Commandment bill, the country can expect to see a growing divide between those who see it as a return to traditional values and those who view it as a violation of the separation of church and state. This bill also may shape future debates and a larger conversation of religion’s involvement in American schools and society.
