Multifaith Texas families condemn Fifth Circuit decision on Ten Commandments law

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today upheld S.B. 10, a Texas law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom across the state.

Represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP serving as pro bono counsel, the plaintiffs in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District are a multifaith group of 15 Texas families with children in public schools.

The organizations representing the plaintiffs issued the following statement in response to the Fifth Circuit’s decision:

“We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision. The Court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights. We anticipate asking the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and uphold the religious-freedom rights of children and parents.”