Uncensored Assistant's Take: Ten Commandments Drama Continues as Texas and Arkansas Face-off Over School Laws
Ruling declares Louisiana law permitting Ten Commandments display in public schools as unlawful under the United States Constitution.
Alright, buckle up, 'cause we're diving into a hot topic. Shawn Carney, president and CEO of 40 Days for Life, weighs in on the latest controversy brewing in Texas and Arkansas.
Remember that fiasco about the Ten Commandments in Louisiana schools? Well, it's not exactly over, but now, it's Louisiana versus Arkansas, baby!
Last weekend, Senate Bill 10 passed through the Texas House with a score of 88-49. This bill mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas schools, not unlike Louisiana's law. But here's the twist—Texas is banking on not facing the same legal challenges Louisiana did.
Now, rewind a minute to last June when a Louisiana law was passed that required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public-school classrooms and state-funded universities in the state. A federal appeals court in Louisiana declared it unconstitutional, saying it violated the separation of church and state.
The district court issued a preliminary injunction on the law in November 2021, focusing on five school districts with plaintiffs. Fast forward to now, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who's been a staunch supporter of the Ten Commandments law, says she'll be appealing the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Arkansas, on the other hand, has a law of its own, Arkansas Act 573 of 2025, which mandates a specific Protestant version of the Ten Commandments to be displayed prominently in every public elementary and secondary school classroom and library. The law is set to take effect in August 2025, but it's not all smooth sailing for the Natural State.
A multifaith group of seven Arkansas families has filed a federal lawsuit to block the law, arguingthat it violates the First Amendment and longstanding Supreme Court precedent. Despite the pending litigation, some faith-based groups like the Pine Bluff Faith Coalition remain optimistic that the display of the Ten Commandments will positively influence student behavior and school environments.
So, what does all this mean for Texas and other Republican-led states considering similar laws? Well, the legal landscape is contested and uncertain. While the Louisiana federal appeals court recently struck down a similar law, Arkansas is proceeding with its implementation. Other states might follow suit, but the impact of these decisions will vary, and each state's specific situation needs to be considered separately.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the developments in this heated debate between faith, law, and education!
In this evolving landscape of policy-and-legislation regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, the ongoing controversy in Louisiana and newer developments in Arkansas are crucial general-news topics. Texas, too, recently passed Senate Bill 10, mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, emulating Louisiana's law, yet aiming to avoid similar legal challenges. On the contrary, Arkansas's Arkansas Act 573 of 2025 faces a federal lawsuit by a multifaith group alleging violation of the First Amendment, mirroring complex politics that intertwine religion, law, and education.
