When a federal judge provisionally rules that a state’s mandate for public schools to display the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional, does that ruling apply only to the school districts involved in the litigation or to all districts in the state?…
Federal judge strikes down Texas Ten Commandments law
The Ten Commandments will not be displayed in Texas public schools after a federal judge blocked the state’s new Ten Commandments law Aug. 20. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio issued a preliminary injunction on Senate Bill…
Ruling coming soon on Texas Ten Commandments law
A federal judge will issue a decision within two weeks on the constitutionality of a new Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. Senate Bill 10 mandates the presence of donated 16-by-20-inch posters or framed copies of…
In Texas, is ‘shepherd’ another word for ‘pastor’?
The quest for absolute purity in opposing women carrying the title “pastor” is now dividing the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, the conservative breakaway group formed in 1998. SBTC was formed as an alternative to the Baptist General Convention of…
Supreme Court upholds Texas law limiting access to online porn
The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a Texas law that limits online access to “sexually explicit” materials. Although the ruling specifically applies to Texas, it has implications for other states that have adopted similar “age ID” verification procedures for online…
Vetoing our future
More than 3.8 million Texas kids qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program during the school year. Government programs support their nutrition because we know hungry children do not learn as well as other children. They don’t grow as…
Two lawsuits target Texas Ten Commandments law
Two Texas Baptists — including a BNG staff member — are among 16 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families who filed suit in federal court today to oppose the state’s new Ten Commandments law. This is the second lawsuit filed against the…
Six Southern states create new accrediting agency
With U.S. President Donald Trump attempting to force academic accrediting agencies to be less “woke” and more responsive to conservatives’ demands, six public universities last week announced formation of their own accrediting agency. This is an attempt to separate from…
‘Trey’s law’ signed by governors in Missouri and Texas
“Trey’s Law” is now the law of the land in Missouri and Texas after governors Mike Kehoe and Greg Abbott signed their versions of the bill this month. On June 10, Missouri Gov. Keheo signed SB-81, a comprehensive public safety…
‘The Chosen’ swaps Texas for Italy to film the crucifixion for the hit drama about Jesus Christ
Matera, in the south of Italy, is known as the “City of Stones” for its architecture. For the next season of “The Chosen,” it’ll be known by another name: Jerusalem.
Get ready for lawsuit, groups warn Abbott over Ten Commandments bill
Texans will sue once Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, three national civil liberties groups said May 29. The announcement came a day after state senators voted to approve an amended version…
Texas Senate passes bill that would require public schools to use Christian B.C./A.D. system to track years
A bill greenlit by the Texas Senate on Monday would block school districts from purchasing instructional materials that do not use the terms “Before Christ” (B.C.) and “Anno Domini” (A.D.) when referring to historical time periods, marking the latest effort…