Republicans in Texas took a major step forward in the battle to expose more students to Christianity. The Texas State Senate passed two bills, opening the door for teachers to have a daily prayer period alongside students and allowing teachers to read the Bible while also mandating that schools display the Ten Commandments.
According to Texas State Senator Phil Green, these bills mark a major step forward in affirming America’s most important tradition to the next generation. Green said:
“This is an American tradition. If schools in Texas do not have it in their funding to [display the Ten Commandments], they can accept private dollars for this.”
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also released a statement regarding the advancement of the two bills, saying:
“I will never stop fighting for religious liberty in Texas. Allowing the Ten Commandments and prayer back into our public schools is one step we can take to make sure that all Texans have the right to freely express their sincerely held religious beliefs.
“I believe that you cannot change the culture of the country until you change the culture of mankind. Bringing the Ten Commandments and prayer back to our public schools will enable our students to become better Texans.”
According to language in the bill, the Ten Commandments would not be put into schools until the next school year. The bill says:
“This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house … If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.”
The ACLU of Texas took issue with this proposal, saying that it infixed on Texan’s right to freedom from religion. In a passage shared by MSN, they said:
“The U.S. Constitution expressly prohibits the entanglement of church and state, and the Texas Constitution guarantees the freedom of worship. Whether we choose to belong to one religion or none at all, people of all faiths and creeds should together resist the state’s endorsement of one particular religion.”
John Litzler, who spoke in opposition to the bill, said that it is not the state’s place to teach morality to children. He contends that on matters pertaining to relationships and adultery, parents should be the ones to introduce proper decorum to their kids. In a quote shared by The Texas Tribune, Litzler said:
“I should have the right to introduce my daughter to the concepts of adultery and coveting one’s spouse. It shouldn’t be one of the first things she learns to read in her kindergarten classroom.”
Of course, the portion of the Ten Commandments that Litzler is referring to is entirely in line with America’s traditions regarding fidelity. The Commandments say:
“You shall not commit adultery.”
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
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