Lawsuit challenges new Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments

In your breakdown, some people you might not expect have joined the lawsuit we first told you about last week. The plaintiffs are suing Louisiana education leaders over a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every state-funded classroom.
A group of nine Louisiana public school families who include Jewish parents, a Unitarian Universalist minister, a Presbyterian pastor, and some non-religious families filed this lawsuit in US District Court in Baton Rouge.
They’re being represented by the ACLU of Louisiana and three other groups who say they’re seeking an injunction.
The lawsuit alleges that House Bill 71 is unconstitutional… and interferes with their right to direct their children’s religious education.
“My children are legally required to attend school, and they’re there to learn math, English, science, art, and so much more. But not to be evangelized by the state into its chosen religion,” Reverand Jeff Simms, a Presbyterian Minister in Covington, said.

[@gordonmorland4873]

No I don't think it should be taught at all. Or having trans people going to schools doing shows for kids.

[@Danplays3000]

Are politicians forgetting about seperation of church and state

[@happytortoise1009]

"Separation of Church and State" is found NOWHERE in the US constitution or ANY founding documents! Thats not what the first amendment says!

[@rentonwilson7286]

So you’re actually going to advocate for a theocracy?

[@Pk-io6xe]

The first sentence of the first amendment clearly lays out the separation of church and state

[@terryparker1925]

WRONG.

[@dannyboyakadandaman504furl9]

It really is unconstitutional

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

No it's not. Cite the law.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

Yeah, but that's not really been stopping conservative judges or courts this last couple years. Sadly.

[@BQA456]

They would rather have drag queen teachers and Satan after school clubs.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In this case a religious governement offical pushed a law to force people to be subjected to his religion and ONLY his religion. The way this has always been handled in the last 30 years when they try this is to them fine, you want your thing, then you have to allow the Satanists, the Pagans, the Muslims, the Jews, and the Aethists to put their thing up too. And that's usually enough for them to back down and go back into the hole they crawled out of. But this is up there with Texas school boards pushing language that basically makes only christian approved clergy capable of being school councilers in public school. There's a seperation of church and state in this country. Meaning I have a right to my religion, you have a right to yours, and both of us have the right not to push that on each other. By doing this, they've said "we as the state support this version of christianity and ONLY this religion and this brand of it" and that's not allowed. It's the same as all the bluster about project 2025 wanting to make this a christian nation but all the christians think it's their personal brand that's getting chosen forgetting that there are hundreds of sub types and the people behind it have already said which version they're picking, the one that has the corrupted prosperity doctrine behind it that they think means that god only likes the rich so if you're not rich god doesn't love you so you shouldn't have rights, protections, or help in this country. It's not just the freedom of religion, it's the freedom FROM religion. And it's state sponsered indocrination, which they keep saying they're against...

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper Seeing as it's in the FIRST AMMENDMENT to the Constitution, IF you are a US citizen, you shouldn't have to ask.

[@Danplays3000]

Politicians enforcing the law probably dont even follow the ten commandments

[@raeyearnd3260]

But words will never hurt me

[@user-jq9sj7km9c]

But fire in hell will..

[@SDZ675]

Literally the first commandment violents the first amendment and freedom of religion. It's one thing if you believe it privately like in a private school, but these are public schools.

[@jasonsanders8797]

Im fairly conservative, and I believe in constitutional and states rights. But there's a big difference between 'allowing' religious doctrines in public buildings, and 'demanding' that they be put there.

[@JuanGonzalez-wq9hy]

So True.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Good point. But irreverent on the legal side. The 1st Amendment restriction is on the Federal congress. There is no restriction encumbrancing the States.

[@IndividualHumanRights-up3ml]

there's also a big difference between the things you mentioned and the establishment of an official state sponsored State Church

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@IndividualHumanRights-up3ml Posting the laws is not establishing a state church. You know that.

[@barkmaker]

Same. ...because what's next? We go full jihad and demand the Koran be taught to kids?

[@TheYabMan]

When Religion Divides, the VIRTUES UNITE, so post Virtues in schools and Unite us all.

[@pandora881]

Separation of church and state.

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

That's about restraining government, not churches.

[@MonMon-qi5gw]

Why do people only say that about the Christian religion? 10 Commandments were taken down from government buildings decades ago because of the claim of separation. Yet when Temple placed Altar to Worship pagan god in Ohio State Capitol during Christmas last yr, and a Christian took it down, non Christians yelled freedom of religion. And he was charged with hate crime (towards a religion). Very double standard. And Jewish and Islam recognize the 10 Commandments as having been given to Moses.

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

@@user-jr5mg4tf3l It is mentioned in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Marbury Baptist Association promising no government interference. The separation of church and state is about restraining government, not churches.

[@dragonproductions236]

@@MonMon-qi5gw He didn't take it down, he destroyed public property. It's no different than a guy walking into a church and smashing windows and altars.

[@MonMon-qi5gw]

​@@dragonproductions236 So you're claiming a Government Building is a place of worship, a church😂😂😂

[@TheRoyalBavarian]

I support as did Thomas Jefferson the separation of church and state. But what I don't understand is why the people pushing to make the commandments mandatory in public classrooms don't use their front yards. Just a nice respectfully sized sign would do fine.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Jefferson support is not important. Show me where in the Constitution it says that? You can't. The 1st Amendment restriction is on the Federal congress. There is no restriction encumbrancing the States.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper yes, there is. It's called the 14th Amendment. State governments cannot pass laws that violate the 1st Amendment any more than the Federal government can.

[@terryparker1925]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper WRONG.

[@hevdread]

Jefferson wrote his contributions to the constitution in the company of is son/slave whom was not considered at all in the document. F the founding fathers all together.

[@alanmayne2918]

​@@MinnesotaBeekeeper"There is no restriction encumbrancing the States." The Louisiana constitution has a clause-"No law shall be enacted establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

[@aieurich]

There’s a reason why there are church’s, for those who WANT to learn about The Christian god, Not to be forced upon in public schools that are supposed to be separate from religion in order to provide a neutral environment for our students . This law is just plain wrong.

[@sephrus7784]

They should not have the ten commandments in public schools. At the same time they should not have any of that pride stuff in schools either. Public schools are there to teach our kids about reading writing math science and history. No sexuality, no religion, no social justice. That's is for the parents to teach.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Would you ban teaching of all history? Just eliminate Social Studies and English altogether? What about Science? Should that be banned because some parents might be upset at evolution or the earth being round? You can't teach History, English, or Science without upsetting someone. It's impossible to be completely inoffensive and still actually convey the things students need to know.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Sexuality is science. Religion and Social Justice are history.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@Lakeside_Flower Religion is both history and philosophy. Social justice is communism which is political..

[@Lakeside_Flower]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper Let's say it is, so what?

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@Lakeside_Flower Down the rabbit hole lol.

[@rsteeb]

Was wondering how many hours it would take to get this crap struck down...

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

Tell me why obeying the 10 commandments is a bad thing.

[@matthewlogan4267]

Your the reason society is the way it is let me guess your a liberal. got you

[@Ephi691]

The time it will take for God to strike you down

[@Ephi691]

​@patrickmccarthy7877 It's not these people who are evil and wicked. The same ones the God said would destroy this world.

[@Ephi691]

@@matthewlogan4267 no I'm a Republican for trump but don't like liberals ways.

[@terryparker1925]

"The Government of the United States of America is not, in ANY sense, founded on the Christian religion." John Adams, founding father, signer of the United States Constitution, second president of the United States, Treaty of Tripoli, 1796. Signed sealed and delivered. That puts all the snivelers in quiet time. END of discussion. You're back out and quiet.

[@lowenstaat]

How about flying Ten Commandments flags in public places and on public buildings and painting them across public roads?

[@Lakeside_Flower]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." - US Constitution

[@lowenstaat]

@@Lakeside_Flower Exactly.

[@micromagic3874]

if youre trying to make a comparison to pride, its not working, because pride isn't a religion. the constitution specifically asks for seperation of church and state.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Do whatever you want on your own private property.

[@lindsey6187]

To all the MAGA hats out there..."Any person who worships the beast or its idol, and takes its mark on his forehead or on his hand, will also feel God's anger"

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Sadly the is no medication for TDS.

[@ralphsalotto-ld5xe]

The Beast is tyrannical government like we have under Biden.

[@terryparker1925]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper Trump in the graveyard 6 feet down will.

[@ReaperDawg102]

Time to take your Meds 💊 cuckoo Bird

[@jgrawn]

This is just biased indoctrination and discrimination. Equal measure isn't given for all faith traditions teachings here? Go to the place of worship of your families choice for religious education. This isn't appropriate in a public school environment.

[@davidoran123]

Might as well require Bullfinch's Mythology, too.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

That would be useful.

[@JuanGonzalez-wq9hy]

The law should have simply "allowed" the display of the Commandments, not "required.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

They require butt plugs for 2nd graders. Something to counter that isn't a bad idea?

[@bekenotsalony2905]

Yes and no. Allowing it is still against the law unless you're going to allow all religions to post something. If you woulnd't feel comfortable with kids reading the tenantes of the Satanic Temple, than no one who isn't Christian should have to be forced to read the 10 commandments.

[@jasonsanders8797]

@@bekenotsalony2905 I believe that was his point. I made a similar one earlier. Allowance for all is ok, so long as there are no restrictions on others. But demanding any is overtly authoritarian.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

@@jasonsanders8797 fair point.

[@user-hm9uw7wv5l]

Thank you republicans to all parents who now get to answer their kindergarteners question “mom/dad, what does adultery mean?”

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Better than, "we learned about butt plugs today". Speaking of which, how are you r rainbow plugs selling?

[@bekenotsalony2905]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper So you're for sexualizing of children? You want children to know about cheating, killing, and hating other people who believe differently... but you don't want them to know age appropriate things like, some people have two daddies, some people have two mommies, sometimes families have more people in it?

[@ReaperDawg102]

Another ignoramus

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@ReaperDawg102 Bet you spend you time trying figure out what side of toilet paper to use.

[@ReaperDawg102]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper , The side with your Face on it!

[@user-jq9sj7km9c]

10 commandments is moral law... compare to pride month which is frm the devil

[@mrsir6112]

Well the very idea that pride is from the devil is a religiously motivated statement. Also and then Moses the Hebrew prophet descended from from the mountain with a stone. And Inscribed on this stone was the words of god. which reads among other things “I am thy god you shall have no other gods before me” “Thou shall not take the name of the lord thy god In vain” “Thou shall keep the sabbath day holy” U right definitely not a religious doctrine just a normal code of laws for normal non religious people

[@michaellucius6161]

Pull you kids out of the school

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Then what?

[@arthurulrich5244]

​@@MinnesotaBeekeeper put the kids in the private school.

[@arthurulrich5244]

​@@MinnesotaBeekeeper put the kids in the private school.

[@user-hs4iy1gd3c]

Devilish world

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Nope, just a secular nation.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

Aren't you glad you live in a country you have the freedom to say that and the freedom to believe it and aren't forced to believe what someone else says because this isn't a theocracy.

[@happytortoise1009]

"Separation of Church and State" is NOWHERE to be found in the US Constitution or ANY founding documents. The Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of . . . religion." In other words, the federal government is not supposed to be telling the States what to do on matters of religion! Not that religion matters to the modern American anyway...

[@robert-sn2cl]

No problem with the 10 commandments, big problem with the homosexual agenda.

[@ferretyluv]

Being gay isn’t a religion.

[@TheLittleTromboneAlt]

The 10 commandments become an issue because they're associated with one religion, and not only is religion and the state supposed to be completely separate, but it's supposed to NOT promote one religion over all others. This does. Yes, I'm a republican.

[@jasonsanders8797]

​@@TheLittleTromboneAltI believe the real issue is the difference between 'allowing' religious doctrines (of any kind) and 'demanding' religious doctrines(of any kind) to be placed in public schools/taxpayers funded properties.

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

So many FASCISTS, so little time.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

No problem with the homosexual agenda, big problem with the 10 commandments.

[@Ephi691]

It is unconstitutional to put prayer in school, but let's teach little Johnny how to become little Susan.

[@JohnLopez-wm7qp]

I'm almost certain that's also illegal and nobody in their right mind is telling anyone to be anyone except you religious freaks.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Yeah, because being trans isn't a religion.

[@Ephi691]

@@Lakeside_Flower it's an abomination

[@HungrySlothDEFCON1]

@@Lakeside_Flowerit’s an abomination is what it is

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Trans people are real. God isn't.

[@pear7554]

Our children need GOD, not genital mutilation.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

No children are getting "genital mutilation." It is illegal.

[@myeyeswentdeaf6213]

You mean the God who demands all male babies be genitally mutated by circumcision upon birth? 🤨 Friggin idiots!🤦🏻‍♂️

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Fun fact: The religion of the Ten Commandments also mandates genital mutilation.

[@cmende8819]

@@pear7554 I'm glad you're taking a brave stand against circumcision

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

Then teach YOUR children in YOUR house all you want!

[@gordonmorland4873]

But it's ok to teach our kids how to be gay? Kinda one sided

[@alicianelson1252]

Kids are born gay they aren't taught it

[@Lakeside_Flower]

LGBT+ isn't a religion and no one is teaching kids to be gay.

[@hevdread]

you homophobs are so soft. You think so little of your kids, that upon them learning that some people are homosexual they will immediately turn into flaming transgenders against their own will? Spoiler alert they also learn about Communism and socialism and Marxism, are they all gonna turn into commies and or socialists too?

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

"How to be gay?" What does that even mean? Do you think people need to take Homosexuality 101 and get a certificate to be gay?

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

What's harmful about obeying the 10 commandments? If everyone did that, we would have world peace.

[@kenhasibar2624]

Really? Why isn't one of those "do not rape"? "Do no not commit genocide"? Do not enslave another human being"? "Do not grab a woman by her p****"? If you need those ten commandments to behave yourself, you're already a f***tard and useless.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

It's forcing your beliefs onto people. Also, Christianity has been involved in many atrocities, so it wouldn't bring world peace.

[@TheLittleTromboneAlt]

It's not that they're all inherently bad, it's the issue of separation of church and state, and the ability of the state to NOT promote one religion above all others. I'm republican and I'd much rather the bill of rights be displayed than anything else.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

How does one obey the 10 Commandments? These are Christians pushing this and most of them don't even recognize the Sabbath, so they're all breaking that. But no, we're not going to all join whatever religious sect you want to push. Even if everyone was a member of the same sect, there would still be war and strife. How many wars have been Catholic v. Catholic, Protestant v. Protestant, Muslim v. Muslim? Sharing a religion means nothing because even religious wars are actually about money.

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

@@TheLittleTromboneAlt They ARE inherently bad. Have you taken a close look at them lately?

[@bikerdude6119]

I thought this was a christian country 💀

[@terryparker1925]

No.

[@neverstop2493]

This country was founded as secular with no mention of god or Jesus in the founding documents

[@Lakeside_Flower]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." - US Constitution

[@BQA456]

How when they are the Nazi Freemasons that stole his country crucified Christ and enslaved his people. Then they act like climate change is man made when its their judgement. And still they don't tell people to repent.

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

Then you thought WRONG.

[@carlfrye1566]

Take a vote, Ten Commandments or LGBTQ books and curriculum. Democrats wouldn't dare do that.

[@terryparker1925]

One is constitutional. The other is not. You lose.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

LGBTQ books and curriculum aren't a religion.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Gay people are real.

[@talithalutterman5167]

Makes you wonder what they are scared of

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Theocracy. Imagine living in a country that told said "you can't be a Christian, you must be X." Pretty bad, right?

[@Ephi691]

The Bible says, " The wicked will be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God."

[@cmende8819]

@@Ephi691 the Bible says a snake spoke, and that a man walked on water. Not very reliable.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

How can any of us forget him? People keep screaming about him with out bothering to read the book or understanding the spirit of it.

[@Ephi691]

@@bekenotsalony2905 that's because the devil has advocates.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

@@Ephi691 You do realize the bible basically says that if someone doesn't want to hear about what your religion says, you're to leave them alone, right?

[@Mark-12-31]

These people are basically idol worshipers. They worship the board more than the meaning of the words on it. You will not vote for an adulterer?

[@WhiteLeper]

Separation of the Federal Government and Public Schools Education! Abolish the Federal Department of Indoctrination ( “Education “)! Put our children’s education back in the states control where it belongs!

[@Hollowptgenius]

We tried that already, big time failure. The North remembers, don't make us come back down there again.

[@WhiteLeper]

@@Hollowptgenius “ Come back down there” ?? You should brush up on your history. Since the U.S. Federal government took over the public education under Carter in 1980 our public school education world ranking has steadily dropped from 1st place to 13th in the world.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@Hollowptgenius What the hell are you talking about?

[@DIANNANTEXAS]

If gay pride can be IN THE AMERICAN CLASSROOMS THEN SO CAN THE 10 Commandments

[@cmende8819]

If the 10 commandments can be in American classrooms so can the 7 satanic tenets. Religious freedom.

[@ferretyluv]

Being gay isn’t a religion.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

LGBT+ isn't a religion.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Gay people are real.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

Do you know what pride is about? It's about saying we are alive, we exist, and we're proud that we've had to watch our friends and people we care about be beaten to death and treated like filth because someone born in this era can't understand a book written two thousand years ago that was rewritten by a gay man so the church would look the other way while he slept with the men at court. Being gay is not a religion.

[@cjpark1461]

And the government will be on Jesus' shoulders.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

Not the American government.

[@bhtenn1]

If it were a woke thing, “crickets”… may God have mercy on our souls. God Bless America We need Jesus Christ!

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Define woke.

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

Have as much Jesus as you want in YOUR house with YOUR kids. NOT MINE!

[@hevdread]

tell us more about how much Jesus Christ means to you, while you're also planning to vote for a philandering liar, who can't name or recite his favorite bible verse, sells bibles at outrageous prices and has yet to be seen regularly attending any church...

[@MonMon-qi5gw]

Jewish and Islam religions also accept 10 Commandments as having been given to Moses.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

Cool, but we are a secular nation, so that just makes it more unconstitutional. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." - US Constitution

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

The Ten Commandments are Jewish, yes. Christians also adopted the Tanakh or a superset of it with their own reinterpretations. Muslims recognize that the Torah was given to Moses but do not recognize any of the copies as authentic and unchanged (since they vary, they must have been corrupted over time). Since the Quran does not include the Ten Commandments, Muslims do not utilize them. Also, not everyone is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Lol. The 1o Commandments ARE Jewish. Moohamhead the warlord sex slaver did not follow the 10.

[@bekenotsalony2905]

And the Jewish people have said that they aren't thrilled about being touted out to be used to give an air of legitimacy to a bad faith argument about cheapening and taking away from something they believe should be kept in a sacred space, it not a public school....

[@blaiseutube]

Yeah the 10 commandments are ok, just not any of that new testament sermon on the mount BS.

[@matthewlogan4267]

Good bring back eithics and values bring back the pleage of Allegiance and bring back christian values we need them we live in a suck society we need the bible

[@JohnLopez-wm7qp]

You should move to Israel if you're soooo religious. Just aaying

[@Lakeside_Flower]

America is the most Christian country in the world. So, saying we need more of it just feels like a sunk cost fallacy.

[@matthewlogan4267]

@JohnLopez-wm7qp how about get out of my country then. we are founded on principles and morales if you want lawlessness go to Africa and if you are so atheist go to China then

[@matthewlogan4267]

@Lakeside_Flower Then have some morals Then. look around you We are more chaotic than ever. People lost their values If you can't see that then you're blind we need these principles to help give us morales We're becoming a moral society if you don't like what i'm saying and if you're atheist then at least have the decency to have some respect and morals and Principles you are the reason what is wrong with our country

[@matthewlogan4267]

@JohnLopez-wm7qp If you don't like my principles and my morals if you don't like our foundation of what we built our country on that how about you get the F out of it

[@vaporize6785]

Philippians 2:10-11, which says, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"

[@cynthia6389]

The satanists are upset. Better submit to them quick!

[@Lakeside_Flower]

You misspelled "first amendment."

[@Mark-12-31]

You will not vote for an adulterer? These people are basically idol worshipers. They worship the board more than the meaning of the words on it.

[@IndividualHumanRights-up3ml]

Just because a book is used as a basis for some religions doesn't mean that displaying an excerpt from that book, which is an excerpt derived from older historical texts, which mentions the word God, constitutes the establishment of a religion. Far from it. That's just nonsense, especially since that particular text has secular significance in morality and law, neither of which are necessarily entwined with the institution or the practicing of religion.

[@Lakeside_Flower]

The Bible is exclusively a religious text for the purpose of establishing the Christian faith. How is “thou shalt have no other gods before me" anything but religious instructions?

[@LolaLaRue-sq6jm]

Excuses, excuses. And LIES.

[@asongfromunderthefloorboards]

These lawmakers are not mandating posting these things as an abstract decoration. They are doing so to force their religious beliefs on others.

[@IndividualHumanRights-up3ml]

@@Lakeside_Flower No, that's untrue in many ways. I'm not even an expert on the subject but just from casual observation and study I can tell you that #1 we aren't talking about the "Bible". We are talking about the 10 commandments. It's already basically common knowledge that the first two books of the Old Testament which was written way before Christianity, are taken from much older texts from the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Sumerians. So you certainly can't legitimately claim that the 10 commandments are "exclusively a religious text for the pupose of establishing the Christian faith" that is complete nonsense.

[@IndividualHumanRights-up3ml]

@@asongfromunderthefloorboards Religious means worship, so besides mentioning the word God which isn't worship, there's nothing religious about the 10 commandments