Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a file photo. (Screenshot via NTD) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in a letter addressed to religious private schools that they are exempt from the regular opening procedures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “As protected by the First Amendment and Texas law, religious private schools may continue to determine when it is safe for their communities to resume in-person instruction free from any government mandate or interference,” Paxton said in the letter dated July 17. “Religious private schools therefore need not comply with local public health orders to the contrary.” The attorney general cited the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and article I, section 6 of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which “prohibits the government from ‘substantially burden[ing]; the free exercise of religion, which includes the ability of faith communities to educate their youth, unless it can demonstrate a compelling interest for the restriction and prove it applies in the least restrictive way.” To subject religious communities and institutions to the same regulations as that of secular communities is unconstitutional and nonstatutory, Paxton said. He also pointed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who deemed religious services essential, […]
