Federal Appeals Court Upholds Texas Ten Commandments Law
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in a 9-8 decision, upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, ruling it does not violate the separation of church and state.
- The court stated that students are not indoctrinated with the Commandments, nor are teachers required to promote or defend them, and the law does not infringe on parents' rights to direct their children's religious upbringing.
- The law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2025, has faced challenges from families of diverse faiths who argue it constitutes state endorsement of religion, but the ruling reversed two lower court decisions against the law.
- The Texas law mandates that the posters be displayed prominently in classrooms, with specific size and visibility requirements, and schools must accept donations of the posters but are not required to purchase them.
- Organizations representing the families opposing the law expressed disappointment and plan to seek Supreme Court review to overturn the appeals court decision.
