Louisiana has enacted a controversial new law mandating that every public school classroom, from elementary through university level, display a poster of the Ten Commandments. Governor Jeff Landry signed the Republican-backed measure into law on Wednesday, characterizing the commandments as "the foundational documents of our state and national government." This legislation positions Louisiana as the first state in the United States to impose such a requirement.

 

The law specifies that the Ten Commandments must be displayed prominently in each classroom in a "large, easily readable font" on an 11-inch by 14-inch poster. Additionally, the poster must include a four-paragraph context statement that outlines the historical role of the commandments in American public education over nearly three centuries. The state law stipulates that these posters must be in place by 2025 in all classrooms that receive state funding, although it does not provide state funds to cover the cost of the posters themselves.

 

This measure is likely to face legal challenges from civil rights organizations, which argue that it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, they point to the Establishment Clause, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Critics argue that the requirement infringes upon the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.

 

The new law is part of a broader trend among Republican-led states, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah, which have proposed similar legislation. However, the constitutionality of such measures has been consistently questioned. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Kentucky that required the display of the Ten Commandments in elementary and high schools. In a narrow 5-4 decision, the court ruled that the Kentucky law lacked a secular legislative purpose and was "plainly religious in nature."

 

The court's decision highlighted that the commandments included directives on religious observance, such as worshiping God and keeping the Sabbath day holy, in addition to prohibitions against criminal activities like killing and stealing. Governor Landry and supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments have played a significant role in shaping American values and legal principles. However, opponents contend that mandating their display in public classrooms crosses a constitutional line, promoting a specific religious viewpoint in a setting that should remain secular and inclusive.

 

As this law takes effect, the anticipated legal challenges will likely focus on whether the state’s actions can be reconciled with the Supreme Court's previous rulings on similar issues. The outcome of these challenges could have significant implications for the interpretation of the Establishment Clause and the ongoing debate over the role of religion in public spaces and institutions in the United States.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-06-22

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

I didn’t know if that’s going to fly legally and it shouldn’t fly religion is private period!

1 hour ago, Tug said:

I didn’t know if that’s going to fly legally and it shouldn’t fly religion is private period!

Th five Fascists will uphold it.

1 hour ago, Tug said:

I didn’t know if that’s going to fly legally and it shouldn’t fly religion is private period!

supreme court overruled almost exact same thing in 1980....La thinks the right wing court today may throw that ruling in trash and pull another roe v wade crap..

 

frigging right wing hypocrite bible beaters....they would enjoy being a part of something like the taliban...and maga cheers.....

I observe the 11th commandment " though shall not get caught " it works for me.

20 minutes ago, charleskerins said:

Th five Fascists will uphold it.

If I may correct you.

 

’Five Christo-Fascists’. 

You can burn and piss on the US Flag ?  ,,, but you have to display the 10 Commandments ....... ????

 

 and my family keeps asking why I never go back to the US

17 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

You can burn and piss on the US Flag ?  ,,, but you have to display the 10 Commandments ....... ????

 

 and my family keeps asking why I never go back to the US

And you can fly the U.S. Flag upside down.
 

You need to read the Constitution.

40 minutes ago, pomchop said:

supreme court overruled almost exact same thing in 1980....La thinks the right wing court today may throw that ruling in trash and pull another roe v wade crap..

 

frigging right wing hypocrite bible beaters....they would enjoy being a part of something like the taliban...and maga cheers.....

What is wrong with guidelines for proper ethical and moral direction in living... what guidelines did you learn from when you were trying to grow up into the fine upstanding person that you are today?  where did you get your guidance???

1 minute ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

What is wrong with guidelines for proper ethical and moral direction in living... what guidelines did you learn from when you were trying to grow up into the fine upstanding person that you are today?  where did you get your guidance???

Does this law in your opinion violate the constitution's separation of state and religion?

8 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Does this law in your opinion violate the constitution's separation of state and religion?

It may... I do not know the particulars of this piece of legislation... appearance is that it does but we won't know for sure until it runs its course thru the legal system.  That said, I am by no means a supporter of organized religion... but I am just curious what sources are being used for guidance for todays' youth on moral and ethical development... seems the anti religion group offer no alternative.

11 x 14 inches is not exactly large. Could be prominently positioned on the back of the door just beneath the coat hook.

1 minute ago, Denim said:

11 x 14 inches is not exactly large. Could be prominently positioned on the back of the door just beneath the coat hook.

Or printed in soft paper so as to at least provide some practical application.

As long as they display relevant quotations alongside from all other major religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc, this can reinforce the teaching of comparative religion that all children should receive before making their own choice of which, if any, they choose to follow.

7 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

As long as they display relevant quotations alongside from all other major religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc, this can reinforce the teaching of comparative religion that all children should receive before making their own choice of which, if any, they choose to follow.

But of course we all know these southern baptist bible beaters have zero plans to display all religiions..just theirs as god has personally assured them that theirs is the only real/true religion and everyone else is full of crap. 

 

Better have a very big wall if you plan to display all the "major" fairy tales rules ....and as an atheist i want my own plack.  OR just don't display any of them and follow the idea of separation of church and state where the schools that receive tax dollars have to follow the rules as outlined in the US constitution.

 

Churches already get tax free treatment worth billions in unpaid property taxes now they want to shove their fairy tales down the throats of kids and stick their old white male noses into women's vaginas and tell them what they can and cannot do with their own bodies.  Taliban 101.  Maga Cheers.

59 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

You can burn and piss on the US Flag ?  ,,, but you have to display the 10 Commandments ....... ????

 

 and my family keeps asking why I never go back to the US

It’s not disparaging the 10 commandments the founders faced religious persecution in their mother countrys that’s why it’s one of the basic tenets in our country the separation of church and state this ruling is crossing that line that’s what the fuss is about and it should be struck down for that reason.

Well, God does bless America, doesn't he? It's a small sacrifice to make! 

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

supreme court overruled almost exact same thing in 1980....La thinks the right wing court today may throw that ruling in trash and pull another roe v wade crap..

 

frigging right wing hypocrite bible beaters....they would enjoy being a part of something like the taliban...and maga cheers.....

Ah yes, just the same as the Taliban.... except for the murder of LGBT, the brutal oppression of women, yeah just the same.

 

Hysterical much?

 

Personally, I think it is kind of a dumb idea. An A4 sized paper somewhere in the classroom will probably be ignored by everyone. Sounds like just more empty political posturing to me. But hardly fascism or the revenge of the Taliban.

38 minutes ago, Denim said:

11 x 14 inches is not exactly large. Could be prominently positioned on the back of the door just beneath the coat hook.

 

it could also be prominently positioned in the trash bin where it belongs. 

7 minutes ago, 2baht said:

God does bless America

Any witnesses to that blessing?

2 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Any witnesses to that blessing?

 

can i get a witness !

8 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Well, God does bless America, doesn't he? It's a small sacrifice to make! 

in Pledge of Allegence, "One nation under god" was not in the original pledge. It was added later by Congress.

3 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Ah yes, just the same as the Taliban.... except for the murder of LGBT, the brutal oppression of women, yeah just the same.

 

Hysterical much?

 

Personally, I think it is kind of a dumb idea. An A4 sized paper somewhere in the classroom will probably be ignored by everyone. Sounds like just more empty political posturing to me. But hardly fascism or the revenge of the Taliban.

Give an inch take a mile.  I am sure some thought those who opposed the nazi and the early taliban were said to be hysterical.  How did that work out.

 

In my experience there are plenty of religious zealots whose lifes mission seems to be to "convert" everyone to their beliefs. 

 

Why I do believe there have been many many wars fought and millions of people killed over whose god is bigger, better, bs...it never ends.  Murder of LGBT and brutal opression of many women is certainly on the "to do" list for many of these fine "christians"

 

 

38 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

As long as they display relevant quotations alongside from all other major religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc, this can reinforce the teaching of comparative religion that all children should receive before making their own choice of which, if any, they choose to follow.

AND post all the variations of teachings within each religion. Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are not unified in their beliefs.

AND do not overlook religions of aborigines and indigenous peoples who don't follow Western or Arab faiths. You might have to double the size of classroom walls for all the postings.

Shouldn't nonreligious and agnostic persons also have equal representation in posters?

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

AND post all the variations of teachings within each religion. Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are not unified in their beliefs.

AND do not overlook religions of aborigines and indigenous peoples who don't follow Western or Arab faiths. You might have to double the size of classroom walls for all the postings.

Shouldn't nonreligious and agnostic persons also have equal representation in posters?

And the Satanists, don’t forget the Satanists.

12 minutes ago, pomchop said:

I am sure some thought those who opposed the nazi and the early taliban were said to be hysterical.  How did that work out.

 

the same taliban that have been in the white house before meeting with US officials ? 

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

What is wrong with guidelines for proper ethical and moral direction in living... what guidelines did you learn from when you were trying to grow up into the fine upstanding person that you are today?  where did you get your guidance???

Ever hear of Family Values and responsibility of parents to provide moral and ethical guidance to their children that seems a major feature of some religions? But conservative extremists want the government to supplant parent's influence over their children unless they too bend to the government ideals of faith.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And the Satanists, don’t forget the Satanists.

 

pastafarians. 

19 minutes ago, pomchop said:

Give an inch take a mile.  I am sure some thought those who opposed the nazi and the early taliban were said to be hysterical.  How did that work out.

 

In my experience there are plenty of religious zealots whose lifes mission seems to be to "convert" everyone to their beliefs. 

 

Why I do believe there have been many many wars fought and millions of people killed over whose god is bigger, better, bs...it never ends.  Murder of LGBT and brutal opression of many women is certainly on the "to do" list for many of these fine "christians"

 

 

Hysterical.

 

Who are these Christians who want to kill gay folks and oppress women, I'd love to know.  I guess the dreaded Louisiana Baptist Taliban is what you fear, eh? Come on, man. 

Thou Shalt Not Troll