Republicans in at least 16 states, including Ohio, have sponsored legislation this year that would mandate the Ten Commandments be exhibited in public school classrooms, pushing the boundaries of the constitution.
Last year, Louisiana became the first state in the nation to establish such a mandate in the modern age, and GOP lawmakers are trying to follow suit. As a challenge moves through the courts, that statute is temporarily blocked in five public school districts; other districts are anticipated to follow the law.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which specifies that Congress cannot enact legislation pertaining to the establishment of religion, is allegedly violated by the bill, according to the federal lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court is probably going to hear the case. The issue is presently being heard by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which received a brief defending Louisiana’s law in December from 18 Republican state attorneys general.
Additionally, legislation that would mandate Bible reading, prayer, or chaplains in public schools have been sponsored by Republican state politicians.
Judeo-Christian ideology is based on the Ten Commandments. According to Jewish and Christian theology, the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible records that God gave the commandments to the Prophet Moses immediately.
Supporting state lawmakers assert that the commandments are not just religious in character but also serve as a historical model for law. For example, the Ohio measure requires schools to exhibit historical displays, and also includes a list of the Ten Commandments. While some of the commandments forbid stealing and murder, others state that God is the only god and that the Sabbath must be kept.
No state has passed legislation mandating that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools thus far this year. In Oklahoma and Mississippi, measures were defeated in committee. They passed out of one legislative chamber but failed in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Last year, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona vetoed similar legislation supported by the Republican Party.
Christian lawmakers who claim to respect the Constitution have found it difficult to support the measures, despite the fact that Republicans control the legislature in each of those states.
Therefore, we are in fact breaking the First Amendment’s plain meaning if we post the Ten Commandments, which are Christian commandments. According to the Daily Montanan, Republican state senator Jason Ellsworth of Montana aided earlier this month.
In the Montana Senate, eight Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the bill.
The U.S. Supreme Court declared in 1980 that Kentucky’s law mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools was unconstitutional.
However, given the composition of the country’s supreme court, proponents of these measures feel that a new legal road has emerged forty-five years later. Three justices of the Supreme Court were chosen by President Donald Trump during his first term, giving the court a conservative 6-3 majority.
During a committee hearing last month, Republican state senator Bob Phalen, who sponsored the Montana law, declared that it is now a new day for religious freedom in America. Over time, the Supreme Court’s stance on religious displays has changed.
In fact, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court decided in favor of a football coach at a Washington state public school who prayed with his team on the 50-yard line in 2022. Many U.S. government buildings, like as the Capitol and the Supreme Court, also feature images of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Republican state legislators have tried to incorporate religious dogma into the school day through bills that require the Ten Commandments to be displayed.
A bill that would mandate that schools hold a minimum one-minute moment of silence at the start of each day was approved by the Republican-controlled Kentucky Senate on Tuesday. It’s on its way to the state house presently. The ACLU and certain members of the state’s Jewish community are among the detractors who claim that children would feel pressured to pray even though school employees would not be allowed to dictate how they should spend their time.
This session, Republican senators in Texas filed legislation that would give school districts the authority to mandate that all campuses offer staff and students a daily time to engage in prayer and Bible reading. There is a committee working on that bill.
A bill that would mandate Bible readings in schools is also being considered in Idaho.
Last year, the top education official in Oklahoma declared that the Bible would be taught in schools. In October, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma over the proposal. The lawsuit is still pending.
Additionally, a bill in Nebraska that would provide local school boards the authority to employ chaplains is currently in committee.
In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed Bible readings and prayer in schools.
Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana, meanwhile, this month sent out instructions to public schools, colleges, and universities on how to adhere to the new law, which went into force in the new year.
Four sample posters were included with the guidelines, one of which featured pictures of Moses and Republican Mike Johnson, the speaker of the U.S. House from Louisiana.
There are no legal repercussions for failing to display the canonical mandate, but the Ten Commandments posters must be provided to schools and measure at least 11 by 14 inches.
Additionally, Murrill suggested placing the posters next to important historical records, such the Declaration of Independence.
According to Murrill, the law was obviously constitutional. When he halted the measure last year, a federal district court judge disagreed, stating that it was clearly religious and illegal. Whichever side wins will probably be decided by the US Supreme Court.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.