Texas Can Require Public Schools to Post Ten Commandments, a Major Victory for Christian Conservatives
A US appeals court ruled that Texas can mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, marking a significant win for Christian conservatives and prompting plans for a Supreme Court appeal by civil rights groups.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 14:28
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(Central News Agency, Houston, 21st, Comprehensive Foreign Wire Report) The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Texas state government can require public schools to post the Ten Commandments from the "Bible." This ruling is a major victory for Christian conservatives hoping to bring religious faith into the classroom.
According to AFP, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 120-page ruling addressing the controversy sparked among parents of different faiths by Texas Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), which requires every classroom to post the Ten Commandments.
The ruling issued today stated that the mandatory posting of the Ten Commandments would not impose a "burden on the conscience of Texas students or parents," and that the plaintiffs "failed to demonstrate that SB 10 poses a substantial burden on their right to religious freedom."
The judges of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, also ruled today that SB 10 does not violate the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing a national religion or favoring a particular religion.
Texas school districts, families, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had previously sued to challenge SB 10, arguing that the religious education of children should be the responsibility of parents and faith communities, not public schools.
The ACLU issued a statement today saying: "We are extremely disappointed with today's ruling. The court's decision goes against the fundamental principles of the First Amendment and violates legally binding Supreme Court precedents."
"The First Amendment guarantees the separation of church and state, ensuring that every family has the freedom to decide how, when, and 'whether' to provide religious education to their children."
On the other hand, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, welcomed today's ruling, believing the court upheld the bill passed by the Texas state legislature in June 2025.
Paxton posted on the social platform X: "The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our country, and it is very important that students learn from them every day."
This controversial case may ultimately reach the US Supreme Court, as the ACLU stated: "We expect to ask the Supreme Court to overturn this ruling."
According to AFP, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 120-page ruling addressing the controversy sparked among parents of different faiths by Texas Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), which requires every classroom to post the Ten Commandments.
The ruling issued today stated that the mandatory posting of the Ten Commandments would not impose a "burden on the conscience of Texas students or parents," and that the plaintiffs "failed to demonstrate that SB 10 poses a substantial burden on their right to religious freedom."
The judges of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, also ruled today that SB 10 does not violate the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing a national religion or favoring a particular religion.
Texas school districts, families, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had previously sued to challenge SB 10, arguing that the religious education of children should be the responsibility of parents and faith communities, not public schools.
The ACLU issued a statement today saying: "We are extremely disappointed with today's ruling. The court's decision goes against the fundamental principles of the First Amendment and violates legally binding Supreme Court precedents."
"The First Amendment guarantees the separation of church and state, ensuring that every family has the freedom to decide how, when, and 'whether' to provide religious education to their children."
On the other hand, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, welcomed today's ruling, believing the court upheld the bill passed by the Texas state legislature in June 2025.
Paxton posted on the social platform X: "The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our country, and it is very important that students learn from them every day."
This controversial case may ultimately reach the US Supreme Court, as the ACLU stated: "We expect to ask the Supreme Court to overturn this ruling."