South Carolina lawmakers advance Ten Commandments school bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WTOC) - South Carolina lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would require public schools and universities to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced the measure, which would add South Carolina to a short list of states mandating religious displays in schools. The bill requires posters to be at least 14 inches tall and 11 inches wide.

Rep. Robby Robbins, a Dorchester Republican who supports the bill, said the commandments provide educational value for students.

“Those commandments were codified in the bible which is the holy word of god and there is nothing wrong with educating children not indoctrinating children educating children on the ten commandments,” Robbins said.

Critics argue the bill violates the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. Courtney Thomas, advocacy director for the ACLU of South Carolina, said the measure excludes students of other faiths.

“Our public schools shouldn’t be places where one religion is prioritized over another,” Thomas said. “Our schools are meant for education not indoctrination.”

Father Gary Linsky from the Basilica of St. Peter in Columbia supports the concept but questions whether posters alone will influence students’ beliefs.

“I understand the desire to bring in faith to the public sphere and I am not opposed to that,” Linsky said. “I’m not convinced that a bill bringing the 10 commandments into our schools is necessarily going to change the underlying fabric of belief.”

Following other states’ lead

Only three states have passed similar laws: Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. South Carolina lawmakers modeled their bill on Louisiana’s legislation.

All three states face legal challenges as opponents have filed lawsuits against the requirements. The court battles highlight the ongoing constitutional questions surrounding religious displays in public schools.

The South Carolina bill would also allow school districts to create policies permitting volunteer chaplains to provide religious counseling on school grounds.

If passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, the measure would make South Carolina the fourth state to mandate Ten Commandments displays in public schools.