Louisiana has agreed to delay the implementation of a law requiring the placement of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms until at least November. This decision comes as a lawsuit challenging the law makes its way through the courts.
The lawsuit was filed by parents of Louisiana public school children with diverse religious backgrounds. They argue that the law violates the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing religion and guarantees religious liberty. On the other hand, supporters of the law contend that the Ten Commandments are a historical document and form part of the foundation of U.S. law.
The law mandates that the commandments be displayed in classrooms by January 1, a deadline that remains unaffected by the recent agreement. However, the defendants in the lawsuit, including state education officials and several local school boards, have agreed not to post the commandments in classrooms or establish rules for implementation before November 15.
A spokesperson for Louisiana's Attorney General stated that this delay is intended to allow time for legal briefs, arguments, and a ruling on the matter.
It is worth noting that in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar law in Kentucky violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the government from favoring one religion over another. The court found that the Kentucky law lacked a secular purpose and primarily served a religious agenda.
In a 2005 case, the Supreme Court also ruled against displays of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky courthouses, deeming them unconstitutional. However, the court upheld the presence of a Ten Commandments marker on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol in Austin.
