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Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama lawmakers could vote on posting Ten Commandments in schools
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — State Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) said the U.S. was founded upon the Ten Commandments given in the Old Testament, and he wants to make sure that history is told. There are some people, however, who largely disagree. Kelley's bill would require the Ten Commandments to be put in common areas — like hallways or entrances — of schools. Kelley said they used to be taught not too long ago in schools. 'You talk to a lot of people, they don't really have the true foundation of what our country was founded on,' Kelley said. 'There's a certain amount of accountability and responsibility that each one of us has, and I think it goes to that accountability.' Kelley said schools wouldn't have to pay for it, as some groups have volunteered to pay for it. He said the Alabama State Board of Education would be required to make the materials available. A similar law laying that foundation was signed in Louisiana and blocked by a federal judge. Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) said it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. 'That bothers me,' Daniels said. 'We're focusing on things that are going to take away and litigation that we're clearly going to lose and cost the state of Alabama hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars.' Immigration judge requests information from US, attorneys before ruling on bond for Alabama student Alireza Doroudi The Rev. Julie Conrady, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama, said that's not the only cost. Conrady said it violates religious freedom. 'If we're talking about our Jewish friends, they would say posting them in English is not even appropriate,' Conrady said. 'When we talk about when we get to translating that text into English is when you start making actual theological claims.' But Kelley said it's not about theological claims, it's about honoring the history of the law and the U.S. 'Well, this is just saying 'don't steal something' and 'don't kill somebody,'' Kelley said. 'You respect other people's rights. You respect differing opinions. You respect different processes.' A House and a Senate version has passed out of committee in both chambers. Counting Tuesday, there are nine legislative days left in the session for lawmakers to vote on this bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Should the 10 Commandments be required in Alabama schools? Community members weigh in
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Two controversial companion bills requiring Alabama public schools to display the Ten Commandments are one step closer to being passed. SB166 and HB178 have moved out of the Senate and House committees and are now in a position to receive a vote on each floor. Dropping a needle on the record-collecting community in Huntsville These bills would require each board of education to display a copy of the Ten Commandments in a common area of each school. On Sunday, several community members in Huntsville said they support the bill. 'To me, the Ten Commandments, God itself displays love,' Tarana Hudson said. 'If we could put love back into the schools to me that's what the Ten Commandments does.' Gerald Lane, another community member who said he supports the bill, believes the Ten Commandments could help with behavior. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'Anytime that you are taking God out then we are at a big disadvantage for our kids especially when we see what's going on in today's society,' Lane said. 'The only way that we can get our kids back and save our kids is to teach them about God.' Others said that Alabama lawmakers should see that God is engrained into our society and that the Ten Commandments should be no different. 'On the back of every single note that we have with our money, it says 'In God we trust' so how much do you really believe that?' Ashley Hayes said. Despite some support for the bill, not everyone is fully on board with the legislation. Ashanti Ortega lives in Huntsville and said she would be okay with the Ten Commandments in schools if other religious documents were also displayed. 'It could be maybe like Buddhism or Hinduism documents,' Ortega said. 'Any kind of representation just so everyone at a school can feel like they can represent who they are and like they do belong to be there instead of this certain demographic of people.' 'I think that I can only support it to some degree, not 100% again it needs to be more inclusive to everyone,' Ortega said. Under the proposed law, the Ten Commandments would have to be displayed on an 11X14 poster in large, easily readable font. Some faith leaders also oppose the bills. Reverend Julie Conrady, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama, said the bill violates the First Amendment. Rev. Conrady believes it would put teachers and school staff members in an awkward position. 'To put it on a poster specifically, as a religious scholar myself, they are putting up a poster without context, without explanation, without any understanding of why this is here,' Rev. Conrady said. 'In doing so are putting teachers and administrators in the position of then explaining and interpreting a religious text for students.' Louisiana passed similar legislation in 2024, but it has since been blocked by a federal judge. Rev. Conrady believes if Alabama passes these bills, it would end in a similar result. 'We will continue to push against it until we have a resolution that protects the religious freedoms of all Alabama families,' Rev. Conrady said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama bill could bring ‘Judeo-Christian' prayer to the classroom
ALABAMA (WHNT) — A bill in the Alabama House would require students to start their school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and then saying a prayer. Alabama House Bill 231 defines the type of prayer as needing to be 'consistent with Judeo-Christian values.' The bill's sponsor Rep. Reed Ingram said he believes the U.S. was founded on Christian principles. VBC to host national robotics competition this week 'We've got to get back to the basics of who we are in this country,' Ingram said. 'This country was built on God. This country was built on the flag.' State lawmakers have taken steps to bring religion into schools before, and Alabama voters have been supportive in the past. In 2018, more than a million people voted to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed at state-owned properties, including public schools. Rev. Julie Conrady, a minister of the Unitarian Universalist Churches of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, said Alabama students represent a wide variety of religious values. 'None of these religious groups have one way to pray,' Conrady said. DeKalb County murder trial ends in hung jury, mistrial Conrady pointed out that even Christian sects disagree about how best to pray. Conrady also serves as the president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama. The organization unites leaders from different faiths, supporting religious freedom and democracy. Interfaith Alliance leaders spoke in Montgomery this month, concerned that HB 231 would violate the freedom of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment. 'Certainly mandating a prayer for students in a captive situation, in a public school setting, is placing legislators, teachers and principals in the place of clergy leaders making the best decisions for their communities, as well as parents getting to make the decision,' Conrady said. 'You know, how and if and when their children pray and learn how to pray.' According to the bill, a school could lose 25% of its funding from the state if students are not saying the pledge and a prayer. Ingram said he is considering amending the bill, loosening some of the language that would strictly require students to pray. However, he said he believes it is good to expose students to Christian prayer. 'At least they'll have that option to where they can pray or not pray,' Ingram said. 'It'll help on people's ethics. It will help on people's crime. It'll help on patriotism as far as this country.' The legislation proposes an amendment to the state constitution, so if it passes the legislature, Alabamians will have the opportunity to vote on it. The bill has passed a House committee, and Ingram said he hopes it will be voted on by the full House soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
