![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1770\/2026\/04\/rja1988-ten-commandments-5742135_640-300x200.jpg\")
New state laws in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia require public\u2011school classrooms to post the Ten Commandments, and federal courts keep blocking those mandates as unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Let\u2019s take a look at the situation.<\/p>\n
The Current Situation<\/span><\/h2>\nStates are passing laws mandating Ten Commandments displays:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Louisiana passed House Bill 71 in 2024, requiring every classroom to display a large, state\u2011approved version of the Ten Commandments, along with a mandated \u201cHistory of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education\u201d statement.<\/li>\n
- Texas (SB 10) and Georgia pursued similar mandates, requiring schools to display specific wording of the Commandments in every classroom.<\/li>\n
- These laws are part of a broader movement in some states to reintroduce explicitly religious content into public schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Federal courts are blocking these laws as unconstitutional:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Courts have consistently ruled that these mandates violate the Establishment Clause because they amount to government endorsement of religion.<\/li>\n
- Key rulings:\n
\n- Roake v. Brumley (5th Cir., 2025) \u2013 A unanimous federal appeals court held Louisiana\u2019s law unconstitutional and upheld an injunction preventing its enforcement.<\/li>\n
- Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD (W.D. Tex., 2025) \u2013 A federal judge blocked Texas\u2019s law, ruling it \u201ccrosses the line from exposure to coercion.\u201d<\/li>\n
- Cribbs Ringer v. Comal ISD (2025) \u2013 Families filed a new lawsuit to stop additional Texas districts from posting the Commandments.<\/li>\n
- Courts repeatedly cite Stone v. Graham (1980), the Supreme Court case that struck down a nearly identical Kentucky law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Establishment Clause is central to these arguments.<\/p>\n
Why Are Federal Courts Blocking These Laws?<\/span><\/h2>\nDoes requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments violate the separation of church and state, or does blocking those displays violate believers\u2019 religious freedom? The First Amendment of the US Constitution states<\/a>:<\/p>\n\u201cCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe Establishment Clause is in the first ten words of the First Amendment:<\/p>\n
\u201cCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThis is the entire Establishment Clause. Everything after it is the Free Exercise Clause and the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition. The Constitution does not contain a sentence that literally says:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government may not post religious symbols.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, courts derive that rule from the Establishment Clause. <\/strong>From the very beginning, courts interpreted this to mean:<\/p>\n\n- The government may not endorse a religion.<\/li>\n
- The government may not promote religious doctrine.<\/li>\n
- The government may not use its authority to advance faith.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Posting religious symbols \u2014 especially sacred texts like the Ten Commandments \u2014 is treated as government endorsement of a particular faith. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that government\u2011sponsored religious displays violate the Establishment Clause when they appear to endorse a faith.<\/p>\n
How Do Public Schools Factor In?<\/span><\/h3>\nPublic schools are government institutions<\/a> because:<\/p>\n\n- They are created by state law.<\/li>\n
- They are funded by taxpayer money.<\/li>\n
- Their employees are state employees.<\/li>\n
- Their policies are government policies.<\/li>\n
- Their classrooms are government\u2011controlled spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Therefore, when a teacher posts something on the wall, it is legally treated as government<\/strong> speech, not personal speech. The crux of the issue is how the courts (including the Supreme Court) have interpreted the Establishment Clause. The teacher\u2019s wall is not \u201ctheir space\u201d when it comes to religious symbols \u2014 it is government speech.<\/p>\nWhat About Other Symbols?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe application of this law may feel inconsistent, as many classrooms display flags and symbols that generate contention from parents and other groups:<\/p>\n
\n- LGBTQ+ Flags<\/li>\n
- Transgender Flags<\/li>\n
- \u201cEveryone Is Welcome Here\u201d \/ Diversity Posters<\/li>\n
- Religious Symbols (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.)<\/li>\n
- Black Lives Matter posters<\/li>\n
- Thin Blue Line flags<\/li>\n
- Pro\u2011life or pro\u2011choice messaging<\/li>\n
- Political campaign materials<\/li>\n
- Cultural or National Flags<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The courts have set the precedent for the religious symbols. School policies govern the posting of non-religious symbols. If the school policy allows the posting of various non-religious symbols, they are lawful. Some teachers may allow these symbols when no district policies exist or when they are in violation of the district\u2019s policies. These are local issues for the school district.<\/p>\n
The Catholic View<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1770\/2026\/04\/small-vecteezy_ai-generated-a-classroom-transformed-into-a-laboratory-for_41895286_small-300x200.jpg\")
The battle over the Ten Commandments in schools has been a growing point of contention \u2013 image courtesy of Vecteezy.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhenever the Ten Commandments enter the news, the courtroom, or the classroom, something deeper is happening than a legal dispute. We are watching a culture wrestle with the place of God, the meaning of morality, and the formation of our children. And in moments like this, the Lord invites us to look past the headlines and return to His heart. In my view, Jesus cares far less about seeing the Ten Commandments posted on a wall and far more about seeing them written on people\u2019s hearts.<\/span><\/p>\nIn the Book of Exodus, God gives the Commandments as a covenant of love. They were meant to shape a people who would reflect God\u2019s character in the world\u2014people who would honor life, protect families, speak truth, and worship God alone. The Commandments were never meant to be displayed for display\u2019s sake; they were meant to be lived.<\/p>\n
We Need To Focus On Creating Unbiased Environments In Schools<\/span><\/h3>\nThe question then is, why are states continuing to challenge a historical precedent? There are opportunities to educate children about the commandments outside the classroom, including at home. These states may be trying to force their cases to the Supreme Court, but the question of intent remains open. That being said, the posting of many non-religious symbols appears to be an effort to politicize the classroom. Matthew 18:6<\/a> tells us:<\/p>\n\u201cWhoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nUnderstandably, some parents would object to religious symbols being placed in the schools. Still, it\u2019s also understandable that some parents would object to the non-religious symbols that schools allow by policy. Schools have a \u201ccaptive\u201d audience of impressionable children. Lately, a growing number of schools are using children to send an anti-ICE political message. Using children in this way is simply adults using children to advance their own causes. The words from Matthew 18:6 are very appropriate for this situation.<\/p>\n
Neutrality Policies<\/span><\/h3>\nMany districts have adopted \u201cneutrality\u201d policies such as:<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cNo political or ideological symbols.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cOnly curriculum\u2011related displays.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cOnly U.S., state, and school flags.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It is unfortunate that adults are using schools as a battleground to push their own agendas. The neutrality policies may be the right solution at this point in time. Let\u2019s pray that we can stop using children as political pawns and focus on providing unbiased environments where children can learn and make their own decisions as adults.<\/p>\n
Please share your thoughts about this article in the \u201cComments\u201d section.<\/p>\n
Peace<\/p>\n
If<\/strong>\u00a0you like this article, you might also enjoy:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Good Shepherd<\/a>
\nWhat Is National Crime Victims\u2019 Rights Week?<\/a>
\nVote: What The National Popular Vote Pact Means For You<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New state laws in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia require public\u2011school classrooms to post the Ten Commandments, and federal courts keep blocking those mandates as unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Let\u2019s take a look at the situation. The Current Situation States are passing laws mandating Ten Commandments displays: Louisiana passed House Bill 71 in 2024, requiring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5001,"featured_media":8024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4025,4028,4022],"tags":[4034,2441,4031],"class_list":["post-8021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-establishment-clause","category-first-amendment-ten-commandments","category-ten-commandments","tag-establishment-clause","tag-first-amendment","tag-ten-commandments"],"yoast_head":"\n
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- \n
- Louisiana passed House Bill 71 in 2024, requiring every classroom to display a large, state\u2011approved version of the Ten Commandments, along with a mandated \u201cHistory of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education\u201d statement.<\/li>\n
- Texas (SB 10) and Georgia pursued similar mandates, requiring schools to display specific wording of the Commandments in every classroom.<\/li>\n
- These laws are part of a broader movement in some states to reintroduce explicitly religious content into public schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Federal courts are blocking these laws as unconstitutional:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Courts have consistently ruled that these mandates violate the Establishment Clause because they amount to government endorsement of religion.<\/li>\n
- Key rulings:\n
- \n
- Roake v. Brumley (5th Cir., 2025) \u2013 A unanimous federal appeals court held Louisiana\u2019s law unconstitutional and upheld an injunction preventing its enforcement.<\/li>\n
- Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD (W.D. Tex., 2025) \u2013 A federal judge blocked Texas\u2019s law, ruling it \u201ccrosses the line from exposure to coercion.\u201d<\/li>\n
- Cribbs Ringer v. Comal ISD (2025) \u2013 Families filed a new lawsuit to stop additional Texas districts from posting the Commandments.<\/li>\n
- Courts repeatedly cite Stone v. Graham (1980), the Supreme Court case that struck down a nearly identical Kentucky law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Establishment Clause is central to these arguments.<\/p>\n
Why Are Federal Courts Blocking These Laws?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Does requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments violate the separation of church and state, or does blocking those displays violate believers\u2019 religious freedom? The First Amendment of the US Constitution states<\/a>:<\/p>\n
\u201cCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
The Establishment Clause is in the first ten words of the First Amendment:<\/p>\n
\u201cCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
This is the entire Establishment Clause. Everything after it is the Free Exercise Clause and the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition. The Constitution does not contain a sentence that literally says:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government may not post religious symbols.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, courts derive that rule from the Establishment Clause. <\/strong>From the very beginning, courts interpreted this to mean:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The government may not endorse a religion.<\/li>\n
- The government may not promote religious doctrine.<\/li>\n
- The government may not use its authority to advance faith.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Posting religious symbols \u2014 especially sacred texts like the Ten Commandments \u2014 is treated as government endorsement of a particular faith. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that government\u2011sponsored religious displays violate the Establishment Clause when they appear to endorse a faith.<\/p>\n
How Do Public Schools Factor In?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Public schools are government institutions<\/a> because:<\/p>\n
- \n
- They are created by state law.<\/li>\n
- They are funded by taxpayer money.<\/li>\n
- Their employees are state employees.<\/li>\n
- Their policies are government policies.<\/li>\n
- Their classrooms are government\u2011controlled spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Therefore, when a teacher posts something on the wall, it is legally treated as government<\/strong> speech, not personal speech. The crux of the issue is how the courts (including the Supreme Court) have interpreted the Establishment Clause. The teacher\u2019s wall is not \u201ctheir space\u201d when it comes to religious symbols \u2014 it is government speech.<\/p>\n
What About Other Symbols?<\/span><\/h2>\n
The application of this law may feel inconsistent, as many classrooms display flags and symbols that generate contention from parents and other groups:<\/p>\n
- \n
- LGBTQ+ Flags<\/li>\n
- Transgender Flags<\/li>\n
- \u201cEveryone Is Welcome Here\u201d \/ Diversity Posters<\/li>\n
- Religious Symbols (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.)<\/li>\n
- Black Lives Matter posters<\/li>\n
- Thin Blue Line flags<\/li>\n
- Pro\u2011life or pro\u2011choice messaging<\/li>\n
- Political campaign materials<\/li>\n
- Cultural or National Flags<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The courts have set the precedent for the religious symbols. School policies govern the posting of non-religious symbols. If the school policy allows the posting of various non-religious symbols, they are lawful. Some teachers may allow these symbols when no district policies exist or when they are in violation of the district\u2019s policies. These are local issues for the school district.<\/p>\n
The Catholic View<\/span><\/h2>\n
The battle over the Ten Commandments in schools has been a growing point of contention \u2013 image courtesy of Vecteezy.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Whenever the Ten Commandments enter the news, the courtroom, or the classroom, something deeper is happening than a legal dispute. We are watching a culture wrestle with the place of God, the meaning of morality, and the formation of our children. And in moments like this, the Lord invites us to look past the headlines and return to His heart. In my view, Jesus cares far less about seeing the Ten Commandments posted on a wall and far more about seeing them written on people\u2019s hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n
In the Book of Exodus, God gives the Commandments as a covenant of love. They were meant to shape a people who would reflect God\u2019s character in the world\u2014people who would honor life, protect families, speak truth, and worship God alone. The Commandments were never meant to be displayed for display\u2019s sake; they were meant to be lived.<\/p>\n
We Need To Focus On Creating Unbiased Environments In Schools<\/span><\/h3>\n
The question then is, why are states continuing to challenge a historical precedent? There are opportunities to educate children about the commandments outside the classroom, including at home. These states may be trying to force their cases to the Supreme Court, but the question of intent remains open. That being said, the posting of many non-religious symbols appears to be an effort to politicize the classroom. Matthew 18:6<\/a> tells us:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Understandably, some parents would object to religious symbols being placed in the schools. Still, it\u2019s also understandable that some parents would object to the non-religious symbols that schools allow by policy. Schools have a \u201ccaptive\u201d audience of impressionable children. Lately, a growing number of schools are using children to send an anti-ICE political message. Using children in this way is simply adults using children to advance their own causes. The words from Matthew 18:6 are very appropriate for this situation.<\/p>\n
Neutrality Policies<\/span><\/h3>\n
Many districts have adopted \u201cneutrality\u201d policies such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \u201cNo political or ideological symbols.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cOnly curriculum\u2011related displays.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cOnly U.S., state, and school flags.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It is unfortunate that adults are using schools as a battleground to push their own agendas. The neutrality policies may be the right solution at this point in time. Let\u2019s pray that we can stop using children as political pawns and focus on providing unbiased environments where children can learn and make their own decisions as adults.<\/p>\n
Please share your thoughts about this article in the \u201cComments\u201d section.<\/p>\n
Peace<\/p>\n
If<\/strong>\u00a0you like this article, you might also enjoy:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nWhat Is National Crime Victims\u2019 Rights Week?<\/a>
\nVote: What The National Popular Vote Pact Means For You<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New state laws in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia require public\u2011school classrooms to post the Ten Commandments, and federal courts keep blocking those mandates as unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Let\u2019s take a look at the situation. The Current Situation States are passing laws mandating Ten Commandments displays: Louisiana passed House Bill 71 in 2024, requiring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5001,"featured_media":8024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4025,4028,4022],"tags":[4034,2441,4031],"class_list":["post-8021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-establishment-clause","category-first-amendment-ten-commandments","category-ten-commandments","tag-establishment-clause","tag-first-amendment","tag-ten-commandments"],"yoast_head":"\n
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