First Liberty Institute and Heather Gebelin Hacker filed an amicus brief on behalf of 46 U.S. lawmakers to allow the Ten Commandments in public schools. U.S. lawmakers, including Mike Johnson, Chip Roy, Ted Cruz, and John Cornyn, support the cause. The lawmakers are backing the display of the Ten Commandments after federal judges blocked similar laws in Texas and Louisiana. The cases, involving laws in Louisiana and Texas, are consolidated and will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
11 days ago
First Liberty Institute, along with attorney Heather Gebelin Hacker of Hacker Stephens LLP, filed an amicus brief on December 4, 2025, representing 46 U.S. lawmakers. The brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to permit the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. This effort follows federal court blocks on similar laws in Louisiana and Texas.1 2 3
Prominent supporters include House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). The filing emphasizes the Commandments' role in American history and legal tradition.1 2 3
In 2024, Louisiana passed House Bill 71, mandating Ten Commandments displays in publicly funded schools. A federal judge blocked it, ruling the measure coercive and unconstitutional.1 2 3
Texas followed in May 2025 with Senate Bill 10, requiring similar displays in classrooms. In August 2025, a federal judge partially enjoined enforcement, citing Establishment Clause concerns.1 2 3
Both cases were consolidated for review by the full 5th Circuit panel, with hearings scheduled for December 2025.1 2 3
Speaker Johnson highlighted the Ten Commandments' presence on the U.S. Supreme Court building, calling them foundational to Western civilization and U.S. history. He expressed hope that the court would uphold precedent to teach America's core principles.1 2 3
Sen. Cruz stressed their influence on Western legal traditions and American law, urging the 5th Circuit to reaffirm founding principles.1 2 3
Sen. Cornyn voiced pride in backing Texas' law, noting it reminds students of Judeo-Christian values shaping the state and nation.1 2 3
Rep. Roy described America as founded on Christian understanding, with the Commandments integral to its legal, moral, and historical heritage. He argued displays affirm the nation's Judeo-Christian identity.1 2 3
The brief cites Supreme Court rulings like American Legion v. American Humanist Association (2019) and Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022) to argue that such displays are constitutional. These cases affirm religious symbols with historical significance in public spaces.1 2 3
Kelly Shackelford, president of First Liberty Institute, asserted that the Commandments symbolize law and moral conduct with religious and secular value. He criticized government hostility toward religious history as contrary to law.1 2 3
Attorney Hacker quoted Justice Neil Gorsuch from American Legion, warning against courts acting as legislatures by banning disliked symbols, thus undermining elected officials' governance.1 2 3
The 5th Circuit's decision could set precedent for religious displays in public education nationwide. Supporters view it as defending religious liberty against perceived overreach.1 2 3
Critics of the laws, as noted in prior rulings, argue they endorse religion in violation of the First Amendment. The outcome may influence future state efforts to integrate faith-based elements in schools.1 2 3
Assess Catholic teachings on public display of Ten Commandments
Catholic doctrine holds the Ten Commandments as the bedrock of moral life, expressing fundamental duties toward God and neighbor. They are not merely private guidelines but universal principles that should permeate society, education, and public discourse. Rooted in divine revelation, the Commandments demand respect and obedience in all spheres of human activity, reflecting God's eternal law. While the Church does not prescribe specific forms of physical display—such as monuments in courthouses or schools—it consistently teaches their integration into public life to foster moral order and human dignity. This assessment draws from magisterial sources emphasizing their timeless authority, role in catechesis, and necessity for societal renewal.
The Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, form the core of the moral law, binding all people regardless of time, place, or culture. They articulate grave obligations that underpin private and public morality, serving as a covenant between God and humanity. As the Catechism explains, they have occupied a central place in Christian catechesis since the time of St. Augustine, often taught in memorable forms to guide the faithful in baptismal preparation and daily life. This enduring role underscores their independence from human constructs: "This God, this Sovereign Master, has issued commandments whose value is independent of time and space, country and race. As God's sun shines on every human face so His law knows neither privilege nor exception." Rulers and citizens alike are subject to this law, which must harmonize all human activities with divine will.
The Church views violations of these commandments as threats to the moral fabric of society. Bishops, as successors to the apostles, are duty-bound to enforce respect for them, countering errors that profane God's name or undermine public morality. This includes combating "pernicious errors" through prayer, teaching, and vigilance, ensuring the Commandments' foundational role in communal life. In essence, Catholic teaching assesses the Commandments not as optional relics but as inviolable truths that demand public acknowledgment to prevent the erosion of ethical standards.
A key aspect of Catholic teaching on the Commandments involves their prominent place in education, where they counter secular influences that ignore divine law. The Church has long criticized educational systems that dismiss the Decalogue as outdated or "heteronomous," insisting instead on its integration to form consciences aligned with God's authority. Pope Pius XI warned against philosophies seeking a "universal moral code of education" apart from the Ten Commandments, the Gospel, or natural law, viewing such efforts as a rejection of divine dependence. This extends to public schools, which the Church condemns when they ridicule the sacred or promote godlessness, urging the establishment of Christian doctrine classes to instill respect for the Commandments.
In the American context, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops emphasizes forming consciences through the full faith, including the moral truths of the Commandments, to equip Catholics for public participation. Catholic schools and universities are called to model this by leading the renewal of education and culture, contributing intellectual resources to debates on freedom and moral truth. Pope John Paul II highlighted their role in proclaiming human capacity for truth and freedom, defending the moral insights foundational to society. Thus, while not mandating physical displays, the Church assesses public education as a prime venue for visibly teaching and honoring the Commandments to combat moral decline and promote genuine liberty.
Catholic social teaching insists that faith, including adherence to the Ten Commandments, must extend beyond private devotion into the public realm. The Church's mission requires shaping society's moral character, bringing the dignity of the human person—rooted in divine law—to civic life. As the Second Vatican Council teaches, religious freedom includes the right of believers to demonstrate their teachings' value for society through organizations like schools and charities. This counters governmental intrusions that limit faith to the private sphere, affirming that practices such as education and social services are expressions of authentic religion protected by the First Amendment in the U.S. context.
The Commandments, as part of this witness, should inspire public policy and cultural renewal. Pope John XXIII listed among human rights the freedom to honor God publicly according to conscience, extending to communal demonstrations of faith. In times of moral debate, Catholics are urged to apply these principles actively, promoting the well-being of all while defending the vulnerable in line with the commandment against killing and others safeguarding life and dignity. The Church assesses public displays or references to the Commandments as compatible with this duty, provided they respect pluralism and avoid coercion, aligning with the call to love neighbors through charity in political life.
Controversies arise when public displays of the Commandments are challenged as endorsements of religion over neutrality. Catholic teaching navigates this by prioritizing evangelization through example and dialogue rather than imposition. While sources like Mit Brennender Sorge decry efforts to sideline divine law in public spheres, they emphasize obedience as a personal and communal response to God, not state enforcement. The Church cautions against reducing faith to symbols alone, instead advocating holistic formation where the Commandments guide actions in justice, family, and society. Where secular laws conflict, Catholics must form consciences to prioritize divine over human authority, as in cases involving life issues tied to the Fifth Commandment.
In summary, Catholic teachings affirm the Ten Commandments as essential to public moral life, urging their teaching, respect, and application in education, governance, and culture. While not explicitly endorsing or prohibiting physical displays, the magisterium supports their visibility as a means to renew society, grounded in religious freedom and human dignity. This fosters a culture where God's law illuminates freedom, countering relativism with eternal truth. Believers are called to embody these principles, ensuring the Commandments' light guides contemporary challenges.