Students rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to support the Ten Commandments in 2005. Alex Wong/Getty Images Arguments over Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom are set for January, as a debate is ramping up around the country about the role religion can play in taxpayer-funded schools. The Fifth Circuit Court this week kept in place a district court’s order halting the state from forcing every public classroom to display the Ten Commandments, while also expediting oral arguments for January 23. The law in question, signed by the governor earlier this year, aims to require any K-12 school or university that receives public funds, including private schools that accept state funds, to display the Ten Commandments in each building and classroom. Before signing it, Governor Landry said “I can’t wait to be sued,” anticipating the legal debate that is now unfolding in the federal courts. The coalition of civil liberties groups that are suing over the law, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, argue that it is a clear violation of the separation of church and state. “There is no longstanding tradition of […]

By : Markus McDowell