Louisiana mandates school display of the Ten Commandments
In the Pelican State, all academic institutes will be obliged to showcase the Ten Commandments in their classrooms and auditoriums from the upcoming year. Republican Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana enacted such a bill into law on a Wednesday.
As per Edwards, the Commandments would provide students with a sense of order and law-abidingness. "If you want to respect the rule of law, you've got to go back to the original law given by Moses," the Governor proclaimed at the bill-signing ceremony, referring to the religious historical foundation of the rule set.
The Commandments are supposed to be displayed on sizeable, clear, and readable placards with a minimum dimension of 28 inches by 35 inches in classrooms. Moreover, a notice is required to be included on each placard noting that the Ten Commandments have been a crucial part of general education in the United States since its inception. The purpose behind this statement is to refute claims by fanatical Christians that the Ten Commandments are an authentic historical document between God and Moses.
Critics cry "forced religious indoctrination"
Civil liberties groups view the law as unconstitutional and have hinted at launching a lawsuit. Critics refer to it as "religious brainwashing of students." The Constitution grants every individual the right to choose their own religious beliefs and practices. Within educational institutions in Louisiana, there's a diverse religious and ideological landscape where everyone should feel safe and welcomed. "We won't let the Louisiana legislature undermine these rights in the name of religious freedom," the joint press release from several groups reads.
Governor Edwards, however, is unfazed. "I can hardly wait to be sued," he declared during a Republican fundraising event on the previous Saturday, referring to potential civil rights lawsuits.
Louisiana becomes the first US state to successfully pass a law advocating for the institutionalization of Christianity. Similar discussions were also held in Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah. However, they haven't been implemented there due to anticipated legal challenges.
Thanks to the majority of conservative and often devout judges on the United States Supreme Court, ultra-religious Christians increasingly hope for favorable verdicts, as reported by the "New York Times."
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The Supreme Court's conservative majority has given hope to ultrareligious Christians in the USA, as they anticipate favorable verdicts in legal challenges related to the promotion of Christianity in schools. Critics among Republicans, however, see this as an attempt to impose Christianity on students, as Louisiana becomes the first state to legally advocate for its institutionalization.
