The bill making the statues possible is still awaiting the signature of Governor Jeff Landry before it becomes law.
It specifies that the Ten Commandments must be prominently displayed on posters no smaller than 11 by 14 inches. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dodie Horton, argues that the commandments form the foundation of Louisiana’s laws.
The legislation comes amid a trend of similar efforts in Texas, South Carolina, and Utah, spurred by recent Supreme Court decisions suggesting such displays are not a violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
Nevertheless, the bill is expected to face legal challenges from civil rights groups who argue that posting the Ten Commandments in public spaces is an endorsement of religion, can be exclusionary to non-Christian citizens, and undermines the principle of the separation of church and state.
Rep. Horton, however, is correct when she argues the commandments laid the foundation for law in Louisiana — not only Louisiana but every state in the Union and Western Civilization. The Decalogue has provided the moral code that profoundly influenced legal and cultural norms. Key principles such as the sanctity of human life, the right to private property, and truthfulness and integrity in communication, are integral to American law and society.