Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law and the Fight for Church-State Separation

In a troubling move that threatens the core principles of religious freedom, Louisiana's legislature recently voted to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all public K-12 schools, charter schools, and post-secondary state institutions. This attempt to blur the line between church and state undermines a fundamental constitutional right—the separation of church and state, a protection enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The law in question, House Bill 71 (HB71), was signed into law this past June and requires all schools—whether public, charter, or state-run—to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in a size no smaller than 11x14 inches, with the text in a font large enough to be easily readable. Additionally, the law mandates that a "context statement" accompany the display, declaring that the Ten Commandments have been an integral part of education for over three centuries.

This is not the first time a state has attempted to push the boundaries of church-state separation. States like Texas and South Carolina have introduced similar bills, though they have failed to pass them into law. A 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Stone v. Graham, struck down a similar law in Kentucky that mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, ruling that such displays violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Given the clear constitutional concerns, it was only a matter of time before legal challenges to the law emerged. A group of Louisiana public school parents, represented by civil rights organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU), and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), quickly filed a lawsuit. They argue that the law violates the separation of church and state and the precedent set by the 1980 Supreme Court ruling.

On Tuesday, a U.S. District Judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, issuing a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from implementing the law. The judge declared the law "facially unconstitutional" and noted its "overtly religious" intent, expressing confidence that the ruling would be upheld in future proceedings.

This decision is a victory for protecting religious freedom and the principle of a secular education system. The judge has set an important precedent by calling out the law for what it is—a blatant attempt to impose a narrow religious viewpoint on public school students.

As we continue to see attempts to pass similar laws across the country, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and oppose any effort to elevate one religious belief above the rights and freedoms of others. As an interfaith community, we must protect the separation of church and state and defend our pluralistic democracy.