I WAS reading the newspapers when I encountered this news story — in Louisiana (U.S.), a bill was signed into law mandating all public classrooms, from kindergarten through college, to display a poster of the Ten Commandments beginning next year.
House Bill 71’s principal signatory and supporter, Republican Governor Jeff Landry, aimed to “expand faith in public schools.” According to the American legislator “If you want to respect the rule of law, you’ve got to start from the original law-giver, which was Moses,” he stated during a news conference.
Other proponents of the bill argue that the Ten Commandments hold historical significance beyond their religious origins. The law’s text describes them as “foundational documents of our state and national government”.
It cited James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, who purportedly said, “We have staked the whole future of our new nation…upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.”
The displays, which will be funded through private donations rather than state dollars, are to be presented as posters or framed documents with large, easily readable text. Each display will also include a contextual statement outlining how the Ten Commandments were historically a significant part of American public education.
As a devout and practicing Catholic, I thought AT FIRST, that this was a very good move to instill faith and piousness among the young generation.
However, while I was mulling the idea in my mind, I began having second thoughts. What if this kind of law will also be introduced here in our country? Or let’s say here in Dumaguete. Would I be agreeable to it?
My Take —– I think this will result in unconstitutional religious coercion of students.
The principle of separating church and state is a cornerstone of modern democracies. This concept is explicitly outlined in the Philippine Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 6, which declares, “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.” This principle dictates that the government and religious institutions should not interfere in each other’s matters and that the state should remain neutral regarding religion.
The significance of this principle is immense, as it guarantees citizens the freedom to practice their religion without fear of persecution or discrimination, while also ensuring that the government is not influenced by any specific religion or religious group.
Public schools serve students of diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds. Mandating the display of the Ten Commandments could alienate and marginalize students who do not adhere to Judeo-Christian beliefs. This creates an environment of exclusion rather than inclusion.
I believe, such a mandate can be seen as a form of coercion, where students might feel pressured to conform to or respect a particular religious tradition that is not their own. This infringes upon individual religious freedoms and the right to be free from religious imposition, which are core principles of our democracy.
Moreover, public education is intended to be secular to ensure that it is universally accessible and free from religious bias. Introducing religious elements into the curriculum or school environment, such as the Ten Commandments, compromises the secular nature of public education and can lead to religious indoctrination rather than objective learning.
Likewise, the focus of public education should be on providing a well-rounded, secular education that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to be informed citizens. Religious mandates distract from this goal and can lead to divisiveness and controversy, which detract from the educational mission of schools.
In a society that values diversity and the right to religious freedom, mandating the display of religious texts in public schools shows a lack of respect for the diverse religious beliefs of all citizens. It suggests that certain religious views are preferred by the state, which can undermine social harmony and mutual respect among different religious communities.
If our government mandates the display of the Ten Commandments, it sets a precedent for other religious texts to be displayed in public schools, leading to potential conflicts and a slippery slope where the line between church and state becomes increasingly blurred.
I believe that knowing what the Ten Commandments are and taking to heart what these directives mean in our lives as human beings would be enough. There’s no need to display them.
The intention to live the way Jesus lived and truly live and behave the way he did, will be enough. If we make it our goal to conduct our lives the way God wants us to and try each day to make God the center of our existence, it will be more than enough. There’s no need for posters to remind us of consecrated laws.
After all, they have already been etched deep in our hearts.
