Latest news with #10Commandments
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas loses first round in court battle over 10 Commandments in schools
(The Center Square) – The state of Texas has lost its first round in a legal battle filed by nonreligious parents and religious leaders from multiple faiths who oppose having the 10 Commandments posted in public school classrooms. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery on Wednesday temporarily blocked a new law from going into effect Sept. 1. In his 55-page ruling issued after a two-day hearing in San Antonio, Biery said the law "likely violates both the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment" of the U.S. Constitution. He granted the plaintiff's request for a preliminary injunction. He also denied the state's motion to dismiss. 'Ultimately, in matters of conscience, faith, beliefs and the soul, most people are Garbo-esque,' Biery wrote. 'They just want to be left alone, neither proselytized nor ostracized, including what occurs to their children in government run schools. 'Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught, the captive audience of students likely would have questions, which teachers would feel compelled to answer. That is what they do. Teenage boys, being the curious hormonally driven creatures they are, might ask: 'Mrs. Walker, I know about lying and I love my parents, but how do I do adultery?' Truly an awkward moment for overworked and underpaid educators, who already have to deal with sex education issues, Mahmoud, 145 S. Ct. at 2355, and a classic example of the law of unintended consequences in legislative edicts.' He said the Texas legislature could also require public schools to post 'the Five Moral Precepts of Buddhism: abstain from killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying and intoxicants,' or other texts. Biery also issued a closing remark to those who disagreed with his ruling. 'For those who disagree with the Court's decision and who would do so with threats, vulgarities and violence, Grace and Peace unto you. May humankind of all faiths, beliefs and non-beliefs be reconciled one to another,' he wrote before his signature on the order. The lawsuit was filed after Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 10 into law on June 22, which requires every public-school classroom in Texas to post a copy of the Ten Commandments beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, The Center Square reported. Protestant pastors, Islamic leaders and nonreligious parents from north Texas school districts sued the Texas Education Agency, Dallas ISD, Desota ISD and Lancaster ISD in U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas. They argue SB 10 violates the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution and 'no federal court has upheld any display of the Ten Commandments by a public school.' 'Permanently posting the Ten Commandments in every Texas public-school classroom unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, reverence, and adoption of the state's mandated religious scripture,' violating the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment, the lawsuit argues. SB 10 also 'substantially interferes with the rights of parents to direct their children's religious education and upbringing,' violating the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, the lawsuit argues. They also argue SB 10 violates the Texas Constitution, which states, 'No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship.' Biery agreed. Attorney General Ken Paxton has said he is appealing the ruling. A lawsuit filed over a similar bill in Louisiana has so far been struck down, including more recently in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Global News
20 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Nanaimo mayor pushes back after province rules out ‘sober' housing project
The mayor of Nanaimo, B.C., is pressing the province to reconsider, after it ruled out making a proposed new 50-unit supportive housing a sober-only facility. Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog and city council voted recently to write the province, advocating for the planned 250 Terminal Ave. project to be a 'dry' facility. The proposal is to build a five-storey building with 50 studio homes, targeted at people currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Nanaimo. 2:05 Nanaimo temporary housing unit program expands Krog said the city wants to see the project used to house people who have already made the leap to sobriety. Story continues below advertisement 'We're just saying, look, those folks that have managed to quit using for whatever reason and with whatever assistance, please give them a place to live where they're not subject to seeing their friends, their neighbours consuming substances every day,' he said. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'In order to save lives you have to provide safe places for people and a safe place when you're trying to remain clean and sober is not to be surrounded by people in active addiction, not to be in a place where drug dealers and others can come and annoy you or take advantage of your vulnerabilities.' Housing Minister Christine Boyle said that recovery-oriented housing is an 'important piece of the housing continuum,' and that the province is building another 78-space facility called 'The Sparrow' in Nanaimo that will serve people who want to minimize exposure to alcohol and drugs. But she said the Terminal Avenue project has always been planned under the province's 'housing first' model. 'Which means being able to bring people indoors and then support them in accessing the health service supports that they need, wherever along their journey they are,' she said. 1:58 Nanaimo RV residents granted bylaw reprieve Boyle acknowledged that the Sparrow facility won't be 100 per cent dry either, saying that model would risk kicking people back out onto the street if they relapse. Story continues below advertisement 'If you relapse, which is a common part of the journey. And you risk also losing your housing, that it becomes that much harder to get back on that path,' she said. Krog said the province has become too focused on the housing first model, arguing, 'it's not the 10 Commandments.' 'It's a rule, the province can change it. It's a policy, the province can change it,' he said. 'For heaven sakes, open your minds up a little bit on this and stop sticking to what I would call an ideologically-based position that is parroted by many in the health community, but sometimes I wonder if any of them have any real experience with the people who've managed to get out of addiction.' Boyle said bringing people indoors into housing is a key first step in cutting down on the street disorder and open drug use that have become major points of public contention in communities like Nanaimo. She said the province will be working closely with the city and service providers to ensure safety at the facility.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pine Bluff hosting event to get 10 Commandments in Arkansas schools ‘ASAP'
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The 10 Commandments are soon supposed to be displayed by law in Arkansas classrooms and libraries unless a federal lawsuit can prevent it. Thursday, a group led by pastors pledged that Pine Bluff would be the first to implement the law. They are also asking the whole state to join them in the city for a strategy session and conference at the end of the month to quickly and effectively implement the law. Arkansas attorney general files motion to intervene in 10 Commandments lawsuit The mixing of Church and state in Arkansas drew praise from Pastors on Patrol, including Reverend Jesse C. Turner. 'We want kids to be able to see something that will help them have better behavior,' Turner said. A flyer handout at the event stated, 'We must organize and advance the work to have these postings done in the schools as soon as possible.' The American Civil Liberties Union is fighting the law in federal court. Wednesday, the ACLU of Arkansas posted on social media: 'Our freedom to live without government-sanctioned religion is central to the First Amendment,' and 'Separation of church and state isn't a suggestion. It's the law.' Lawsuit filed to halt Arkansas law putting 10 Commandments in classrooms On the same day, lawyers within the Arkansas Attorney General's Office sent a brief in support of dismissing the lawsuit. The document states: 'Although the Act becomes effective on August 5, 2025, there is no deadline for the Districts to comply because they can comply only if and when they receive voluntary contributions. Moreover, the Act has no penalties or any other enforcement mechanisms if the Districts fail to comply because the Districts may never be able to comply.' Reverends with Pastors on Patrol (POP) in Pine Bluff say in recent years they have seen double-digit percentage reductions in bad behavior at campuses they have worked with. They added the same positive behavior strategies and emotional education they teach come from the scripture. 'This is a movement from God. This is the word of God that we are carrying forward, and it's not just one group, but it is many groups,' Turner said. Federal judge hears Arkansas Ten Commandments monument case POP, the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, and other groups are inviting leaders from all 75 counties to a strategy session and conference inside the Pine Bluff Reynolds Center on July 28, just a week before the law goes into effect. Registration is open for the event from July 1 to July 10. Register online here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
American Press
20-06-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Court blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to post Ten Commandments in classrooms
Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday signed a bill mandating the displays of the 10 Commandments in all Louisiana public schools. (Crystal Stevenson / American Press) A panel of three federal appellate judges has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in each of the state's public school classrooms is unconstitutional. The ruling Friday marked a major win for civil liberties groups who say the mandate violates the separation of church and state, and that the poster-sized displays would isolate students — especially those who are not Christian. The mandate has been touted by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, and marks one of the latest pushes by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms. Backers of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in classrooms because they are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law. The plaintiffs' attorneys and Louisiana disagreed on whether the appeals court's decision applied to every public school district in the state or only the districts party to the lawsuit. 'All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution,' said Liz Hayes, a spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which served as co-counsel for the plaintiffs. The appeals court's rulings 'interpret the law for all of Louisiana,' Hayes added. 'Thus, all school districts must abide by this decision and should not post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.' Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said she disagreed and believed the ruling only applied to school districts in the five parishes that were party to the lawsuit and that she would seek to appeal the ruling. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' order stems from a lawsuit filed last year by parents of Louisiana school children from various religious backgrounds, who said the law violates First Amendment language guaranteeing religious liberty and forbidding government establishment of religion. The mandate was signed into law last June by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. The court's ruling backs an order issued last fall by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who declared the mandate unconstitutional and ordered state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision. Law experts have long said they expect the Louisiana case to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, testing the conservative court on the issue of religion and government. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but served a plainly religious purpose. In 2005, the Supreme Court held that such displays in a pair of Kentucky courthouses violated the Constitution. At the same time, the court upheld a Ten Commandments marker on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol in Austin.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas attorney general files motion to intervene in 10 Commandments lawsuit
FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Arkansas attorney general has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the mandate to display the 10 Commandments in classrooms. The motion was filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith. It cites the public interest as the reason for intervention and states that the legal prerequisites for its intervention request are met. Lawsuit filed to halt Arkansas law putting 10 Commandments in classrooms The lawsuit cited for intervention was filed on June 11 to overturn Act 573 of 2025, which required the 10 Commandments to be in each elementary and secondary school classroom. The suit was filed in the Western District of Arkansas on behalf of six families from northwest Arkansas with school-aged children against four school districts in northwest Arkansas. The suit states that the families who are atheist, Jewish, Unitarian Universalists, Humanists, agnostic and a household led by an atheist who is a former Mormon are being forced to observe religious doctrine they do not subscribe to or wish to force on their children. The suit claims Act 573 violates the First Amendment's establishment and free exercise clauses. Plaintiffs request a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from taking effect before the court case is completed. Ten Commandments, 'In God We Trust' in classrooms is now Arkansas law Act 573 is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 5. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
