New orleans: A US appeals court on Tuesday upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, handing a victory to conservatives pushing for greater religious presence in education. The ruling by the court in New Orleans overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the measure as a violation of religious freedom.
According to Ghana News Agency, the lawsuit had been brought by 15 Texas families, backed by advocacy groups. The appeals court stated that the law does not mandate religious practices or instruction, noting that students are not required to study or follow the commandments and remain free to choose their beliefs.
Plaintiffs criticized the decision, arguing it undermines constitutional protections separating church and state and the right of families to decide on religious education. They expressed intentions to challenge the ruling before the US Supreme Court.
The Texas law is part of a broader push to increase Christian messaging in schools. Other states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama, have passed similar measures requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, according to a report by The New York Times, while others are considering such steps.
Texas schools are also offered financial incentives to adopt Bible-influenced curricula, with funding of up to $60 per student per year, though participation is voluntary. Republican Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the ruling, calling it a major victory and saying the foundations of Western law and morality belong in classrooms.