Texas Freedom Network and faith leaders gathered at the Texas Capitol, urging legislators to reject the Ten Commandments Bill, SB 10.
Spokespeople available for additional comments or interviews in both English and Spanish at request
Photos from Texas Freedom Network’s press conference can be found here
A recording of the press conference can be found here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — Before the Texas House Public Education Committee hears Senate Bill 10, Texas Freedom Network, faith leaders and community members today gathered at the Texas Capitol urging supporters and legislators to take action against SB 10, a bill that would require all Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom in a specific format and size, as outlined in the legislation.
Senate Bill 10 passed the full Texas Senate in March, and today marks the last time that Texans can comment publicly on the bill in the presence of legislators.
Lawmakers proposed similar legislation in 2023, but it ultimately failed to receive a vote on the House floor before the end of the 88th Legislative Session.
Representatives from Texas Freedom Network, Just Texas, the Sikh Coalition, Temple Beth Shalom, and the Jubilee Episcopal Church spoke. CAIR-Texas provided additional remarks.
“Forcing public schools to favor one religious perspective over all others would undermine the right of children from different religious traditions to feel welcome and respected in our public schools,” said Felicia Martin (she/her), Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network. “Moreover, the government cheapens religious faith when it imposes mandates designed to play favorites, as this bill does. Matters of faith are best left to families and congregations, not government and public schools.”
“Texans cherish religious freedom. It’s one of our oldest and most sacred shared values. But true religious freedom means that families, not politicians, have the right to guide their children’s religious education,” said Reverend Hayden Paul (he/him), Curate of Jubilee Episcopal, Priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and Just Texas Faith Leader. “Mandating the Ten Commandments in every classroom undermines religious freedom, because it sends a harmful message to students who come from different or no religious background, that they are less valued in their own schools.”
“Solely displaying the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is once again an attempt to privilege American Christian theology over the many other faiths, cultural, and ethnic traditions represented in U.S. history and current affairs,” said Upneet Kaur (she/her), Senior Education Manager of the Sikh Coalition. “Sponsors and supporters of this bill in the Senate allege that the Ten Commandments were a foundational document in the establishment of our nation. While Christian values and beliefs did indeed play a role in the founding, it never has been nor will ever be just one religious, spiritual, or ethical tradition that has played a vital role in the founding and flourishing of our nation.”
“Texans are guided by our faith, and the way we practice our faith is a sacred choice within our families and between our trusted religious leaders,” said Rabbi Eleanor B. Steinman (she/her), Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom. “Our classrooms are where the future citizens of our State learn the importance of coexistence and tolerance alongside the fundamentals of reading, math, art, writing, and science. Classrooms are not temples, churches, mosques, prayer rooms, pagodas, or synagogues. The 10 commandments have no place inside places of public learning.”
“The more the government imposes religious elements from a single faith into K-12 public schools, the less comfortable Muslims and other diverse students will feel in expressing their identities and requesting accommodations,” said Shaimaa Zayan (she/her), CAIR Texas Operations Manager. “Let us protect the separation between church and state to ensure that all students, regardless of their religion, feel comfortable expressing their identity and requesting religious accommodations needed to practice their sincerely held faith and attain mental wellbeing. Let us preserve this country as its founders envisioned it—a nation that welcomes all and ensures equal civil rights for all.”
