Texas legislators have reignited efforts to bring the Ten Commandments and Bible reading into public schools, a move that has drawn both strong support and vocal opposition. The proposed laws, championed by Republican lawmakers, reflect a growing trend across the country as states seek to reaffirm religious values in education.
Republican lawmakers in the Texas Senate have introduced bills that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms and allow designated time for Bible reading.
“The Ten Commandments are part of our Texas and American story,” said Sen. Phil King, the lead author of the bill, according to NBC News. He further emphasized that “if our students don’t know the Ten Commandments, they will never understand the foundation for much of American history and law.”
Another bill would permit school districts to implement policies allowing time for prayer and scripture reading with parental consent. “Our schools are not God-free zones,” said Sen. Mayes Middleton, the bill’s author, while also expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for “making prayer in public schools a top priority,” NBC News reported.
Lt. Gov. Patrick has made clear that passing this legislation is one of his priorities. A similar attempt in 2023 failed due to time constraints, but with the new session underway, the bill may have a better chance of advancing.
Texas is not alone in this legislative push. Louisiana became the first state to require the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school and college classrooms, but the law is currently facing legal challenges. A coalition of parents has sued, arguing that the mandate infringes upon their First Amendment rights. A lower court has already ruled that Louisiana had not provided “any constitutional way to display the Ten Commandments.”
In other states, similar measures are being considered. Kentucky has introduced a bill that would allow public schools to post the Ten Commandments, though it would not be a requirement. Ohio has proposed legislation that would require schools to choose from a list of historical documents to display, including the Ten Commandments. Georgia’s lawmakers have gone further, filing a bill that would require public elementary and secondary schools to place copies of the Ten Commandments in designated areas, such as school entrances.
Supporters of these bills argue that they align with America’s legal and religious heritage. King stated that the Texas bill is “in accord with the history and traditions of our state and nation,” and that students will “appreciate the role of the Ten Commandments in our heritage,” according to NBC News.
This perspective follows a 2022 Supreme Court ruling in favor of a high school football coach’s right to pray on the field after games. The ruling, decided by a conservative-majority court, examined “historical practices and understandings” in determining whether the First Amendment had been violated.
However, opponents argue that government-mandated religious displays violate constitutional protections. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is backing the lawsuit against Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law, warned that similar efforts in other states may face legal battles. “Public schools are not Sunday schools, and today’s vote ensures that our public school classrooms will remain spaces where all students, regardless of their faith, feel welcomed,” said Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager, after a similar bill failed in the state.
From a Catholic standpoint, the effort to restore Christian values in schools is commendable, as it reinforces moral teaching and a foundation of faith. However, the Church also recognizes the importance of religious freedom and ensuring that the state does not impose one particular interpretation of Christianity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the right to religious liberty is neither a moral license to adhere to error nor a supposed right to error, but rather a natural right of the human person to civil liberty, i.e., immunity, within just limits, from external constraint in religious matters by political authorities” (CCC 2108).
As these debates unfold, Catholic families may wish to engage with lawmakers and educators to ensure that any such policies uphold both faith and the dignity of religious freedom. While the Ten Commandments are indeed foundational to Christian and moral teaching, their public display must be approached in a way that respects the diverse religious beliefs of all students.
The Texas bills, if passed, could set a precedent for further discussions on the role of faith in education. Catholics, and Christians at large, are called to both uphold the moral teachings of Scripture and advocate for religious freedom in a way that respects the pluralistic society in which we live.
As Texas and other states move forward with these legislative efforts, the debate will likely intensify, especially if the matter reaches the Supreme Court. Whether these laws will withstand legal scrutiny remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the role of religion in public schools will continue to be a focal point in America’s cultural and legal landscape.
