Starting in 2025, all public educational institutions in the US state of Louisiana will be required by law to display the Ten Commandments from the Bible on their walls. The law was introduced by Republicans and signed by the state’s governor, Jeff Landry.
The Ten Commandments will be displayed in the form of posters or framed documents in all public educational facilities in Louisiana, from kindergarten to university. The law mandates that the commandments be printed in large, easily readable font on the posters or documents. The cost of displaying them will be covered by donations, with no state funding involved.
Louisiana is the first state in the US to pass such a law, with Republicans citing the historical significance of the Ten Commandments. They argue that the commandments are an important document for the founding of the United States and the state itself. Governor Landry emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law by referring back to the original laws given by Moses.
However, the law has sparked controversy, with critics claiming that it blurs the separation between state and church and violates the US Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of a state religion or favoring one religion over another. Several civil rights groups, such as the „United Americans for the Separation of Church and State,“ have announced plans to challenge the law in court, calling it blatantly unconstitutional.
Critics have raised concerns about the potential religious coercion of students, arguing that everyone should have the right to decide their own religious beliefs and practices. They stress the importance of maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment in educational institutions where all students feel safe and welcome, without interference from the government.
Similar laws have been proposed in other states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah, but have not been implemented due to the anticipated legal challenges. In 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled a similar law in Kentucky as unconstitutional, setting a precedent for future legal battles over the public display of religious texts in educational settings.