New Law Promotes Daily Prayer and Religious Texts in Schools
A new Texas law, Senate Bill 11, now allows public schools to provide daily time for students and staff to pray and read religious texts. On Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton encouraged schoolchildren to use this time to recite the Lord’s Prayer from the King James Bible. His statement marks a bold endorsement of Christianity by a state official, drawing immediate scrutiny from both legal and political circles.
Paxton Frames Prayer as Moral Defense Against Liberalism
Paxton argued that opening the Bible and displaying the Ten Commandments in schools is essential to preserving American values. In a press release, he criticized “twisted, radical liberals” for undermining the nation’s “Biblical Truth.” Paxton’s comments are seen by many as politically motivated, as he seeks to rally conservative support in a potential U.S. Senate bid against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
Legal Concerns Raised Over Promotion of Christianity
The U.S. Constitution prohibits states from endorsing any specific religion. Critics argue that Paxton’s call to promote the Lord’s Prayer violates constitutional protections and misuses state resources. The attorney general’s office did not respond to questions about potential legal conflicts. Just weeks earlier, a federal judge struck down a Texas law mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
SB 11 Part of Broader Push to Weaken Church-State Separation
SB 11 is part of a larger legislative trend in Texas aimed at increasing the presence of religion in public education. Alongside laws that support public funding for private religious schools, the state has also introduced Bible-based curricula in elementary schools. Republican lawmakers argue these efforts reflect America’s religious heritage, but scholars dispute the historical accuracy of such claims.
Supreme Court Precedents Shift Legal Landscape
Supporters of SB 11 cite the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton as validation. In that case, the court sided with a coach disciplined for praying on the field, signaling a shift away from strict separation of church and state. With the court’s conservative majority, Texas officials see an opening to reintroduce Christian practices into public schools.
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Texas AG Ken Paxton encourages students to recite Lord’s Prayer in latest test of church-state separation
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