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Texas Mothers Sue to Block Ten Commandments in Classrooms
Confirmed
In Short: Three Houston-area mothers are taking legal action against a 2025 Texas law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, arguing that it violates Texas state laws.
The plaintiffs, Sohal, Nath, and Roth, are seeking a temporary restraining order against the three school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments before the new school year begins.
The version of the Ten Commandments required for display, if donated to schools, is the Protestant version from the King James Bible.
Nath, whose family practices Jainism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Quakerism, told Houston Public Media, 'There’s that commandment saying you shouldn’t have imagery or statues or whatever and no other gods than me.'
Vanessa D. Roth argued, 'It cannot be something that is only done when it advances a Christian agenda, to the exclusion of every other religious background of the citizens and students of Texas.'
The mothers contend that the law substantially burdens the free exercise of religion for their children and others.
Nath further explained, 'That’s telling my son that there’s something wrong with him for celebrating his grandpa’s Hinduism. And it’s not just my son, but for all the other kids who come from such a diversity of religions in my kids’ classes.'
Religionnews reported that one law required public-school classrooms to display copies of the Ten Commandments starting in September 2025, while another required every Texas school district to vote on whether to establish periods of worship during the school day.
Interestingly, even in a deeply religious state where 67% of adults identify as Christians, fewer than 25 of Texas’ 1,200+ school districts voted to dedicate class time to prayer and worship.
Texas legislators have also been involved in efforts to make Muslims feel less welcome, despite expanding Christian teachings in public schools.
Religionnews contributor noted, 'Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated.' There was no chapter and verse, but I instantly recognized it as Scripture hanging on the wall of her new public school: the Golden Rule, rendered in English plain enough for the first graders who’d soon be trying to read it for themselves.
However, as Texas legislators have adopted curriculum changes and laws to increase Christian content in public schools, some parents feel alarm, skepticism, and frustration.
One parent, who subscribes to orthodox Christian doctrines and takes Scripture seriously, expressed, 'You might think that someone like me — who subscribes to “traditional family values” and takes Scripture seriously — would be thrilled by efforts of the Texas Legislature and State Board of Education to make public schools Christian again.'
What's confirmed
- The plaintiffs, Sohal, Nath, and Roth, are seeking a temporary restraining order against the three school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments before the new school year begins.
- The version of the Ten Commandments required for display, if donated to schools, is the Protestant version from the King James Bible.
- The mothers contend that the law substantially burdens the free exercise of religion for their children and others.
- Religionnews reported that one law required public-school classrooms to display copies of the Ten Commandments starting in September 2025, while another required every Texas school district to vote on whether to establish periods of worship during the school day.
- Interestingly, even in a deeply religious state where 67% of adults identify as Christians, fewer than 25 of Texas’ 1,200+ school districts voted to dedicate class time to prayer and worship.
- Texas legislators have also been involved in efforts to make Muslims feel less welcome, despite expanding Christian teachings in public schools.
- Religionnews contributor noted, 'Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated.' There was no chapter and verse, but I instantly recognized it as Scripture hanging on the wall of her new public school: the Golden Rule, rendered in English plain enough for the first graders who’d soon be trying to read it for themselves.
- However, as Texas legislators have adopted curriculum changes and laws to increase Christian content in public schools, some parents feel alarm, skepticism, and frustration.
What's still developing
- But now, three Houston-area mothers are trying to stop the 2025 law from a new legal perspective: Rather than rely on the U.S. Constitution's protections for freedom of religion, they argue the display of the Ten Commandments violates Texas' own laws.
- My kids are in church so frequently the building feels like an extension of our own living room.