(5MinNewsBreak.com) – A federal judge in Louisiana has struck a blow against religious freedom by blocking a law that would have brought the Ten Commandments into public school classrooms.
U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, an Obama appointee, ruled that the Louisiana law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional.
The state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed the law, which was set to take effect on January 1st.
It requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all K-12 public schools and state-funded university classrooms.
Judge deGravelles claimed the law was “unconstitutional on its face” and “overtly religious.”
He wrote:
“Each of the Plaintiffs’ minor children will be forced ‘in every practical sense,’ through Louisiana’s required attendance policy, to be a ‘captive audience’ and to participate in a religious exercise: reading and considering a specific version of the Ten Commandments, one posted in every single classroom, for the entire school year, regardless of the age of the student or subject matter of the course.”
Critics of the decision argue that it completely disregards the historical and cultural significance of the Ten Commandments in American society.
Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill vowed to fight back against this judicial activism. “We strongly disagree with the court’s decision and will immediately appeal,” Murrill stated.
A group of Louisiana parents brought the lawsuit challenging the law, claiming it violates students’ constitutional rights.
In response, supporters of the law assert that schools are not required to use public funds for the displays, suggesting that donations could cover the costs.
The decision to block this law is part of a broader assault on religious expression in public life.
Liberal activists and judges across the country are working tirelessly to erase any trace of faith from our schools and government institutions by citing a biased interpretation of the First Amendment.
Governor Jeff Landry and other conservative leaders in Louisiana have made it clear that they will not back down in the face of this judicial overreach.
The appeal will be taken to the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where there is hope for a more favorable ruling that respects the importance of religious heritage in education.
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