HOUSTON \u2013 A Houston rabbi is among a group of Texas families planning to take their legal fight over the Ten Commandments in public schools to the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Joshua Fixler, who sued Houston ISD, is one of 15 families involved in a multifaith lawsuit challenging the state law.<\/p>\n
Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld Senate Bill 10, which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom across Texas.<\/p>\n
The case\u2014Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District\u2014was brought by families of different religious backgrounds who argue the law violates their constitutional rights.<\/p>\n
The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.<\/p>\n
Houston rabbi raises concerns<\/p>\n
Rabbi Fixler said he joined the lawsuit alongside other families after the law passed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unconstitutional and unacceptable to have the Christian version of the Ten Commandments hanging in our kids\u2019 classrooms,\u201d said Fixler.<\/p>\n
He argues the law promotes a specific religious viewpoint in public schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the Christian version of the Ten Commandments and my kids would have to see that every day,\u201d Fixler said. \u201cIt\u2019s a real affront to religious freedom and the separation of church and state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fixler also says the displays could send a message to students of other faiths.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would show them that they\u2019re less welcome in their schools, that our religious tradition isn\u2019t welcome,\u201d said Fixler.<\/p>\n
As a parent, he says some of the language in the Ten Commandments is not appropriate for young children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings like adultery and coveting thy neighbor\u2019s wife. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s age appropriate,\u201d said Dixler.<\/p>\n
Supporters call ruling a \u2018victory\u2019<\/p>\n
Supporters of the law say the court got it right.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Covey, the director of public policy for the group Texas Values, called the decision a major win.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge victory,\u201d Covey said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t about establishing a religion, it\u2019s about recognizing a historical text that has influenced our legal tradition in a passive, non-coercive way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Covey says the Constitution does not require religion to be removed from public life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question actually isn\u2019t whether something\u2019s religious,\u201d Covey said. \u201cThe question is whether the government is forcing people to participate in a religion. And here, it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Supporters also say the displays could help students understand the country\u2019s history and legal system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps remind students of our history and our tradition and how our legal system developed,\u201d Covey said.<\/p>\n
What happens next<\/p>\n
Despite the ruling, Rabbi Fixler says the families involved are preparing to take the case to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working to take this to the next step, which is the Supreme Court,\u201d said Fixler. \u201cWe\u2019re going to keep on fighting because my kids deserve to go to schools where everybody\u2019s faith is respected equally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas is one of four states requiring Ten Commandments displays in schools.<\/p>\n
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