Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is in favor Louisiana’s new law forcing public schools to post the Ten Commandments
He added he believes the controversial law will survive legal challenges it faces, per The Hill.
“I’m supportive of it, yeah,” Johnson said to reporters Wednesday. “And I think it should pass court muster. I think there’s a number of states trying to look to do the same thing, and I don’t think it’s offensive in any way. I think it’s a positive thing.”
The law mandate every public school classroom in elementary and high schools to display the Ten Commandments on easily readable posters. They must do this starting in 2025.
The posters need to include three paragraphs about the religious text’s influential role in American history, per the outlet.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, signed the bill last week.
The measure sailed through Louisiana’s GOP-controlled Legislature — where Johnson himself worked.
Johnson spoke about why the legislators would pass the law.
“The intent behind it is that they’re trying to acknowledge our history and tradition in the country. I mean, obviously, the Ten Commandments have a huge impact, and they’re very important in the development of our — well, of all of Western civilization, but certainly of our country. And I think that’s what they had in mind,” Johnson said.
“What the Louisiana Legislature is trying to do — those are my old colleagues down there, I know what they’re up to — they’re trying to reemphasize the importance of that foundational part of our country, and that should be permissible. It’s not an establishment of religion. It’s not. They’re not trying to enforce any particular religious code. They’re just saying this is part of the history and tradition.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), andother civil liberties groups, wasted no time filing lawsuits on behalf of families with different religious backgrounds. The lawsuits argue the new law violates their First Amendment rights.
Johnson, however, said he expects the ACLU to lose the fight.
“I think this Court is open to effectively affirming what the court did in the early ’80s, with Marsh v. Chambers and other cases like that. So we’ll see how it turns out. But yeah, I’m supportive of it,” Johnson said.
Former President Donald Trump also supports the mandate.
“I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER,” Trump wroteon his online platform Truth Social. “READ IT — HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY.”
