National Interfaith Leader: “10 Commandments” Bill in Texas An Affront to American Values

For Immediate Release Contact: Shannon Craig Straw, West End Strategy Team, 202-776-7700, scstraw@westendstrategy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2023

CONTACT
Jonny Levenfeld, West End Strategy Team
jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com; 202-704-4535

National Interfaith Leader: “10 Commandments” Bill in Texas An Affront to American Values

WASHINGTON—Interfaith advocates are strongly condemning the Texas State Senate’s vote to advance a bill mandating the display of the 10 Commandments. The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, issued the following statement:

“This bill represents a clear abrogation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. By advancing this legislation, Texas legislators have declared war on the Constitution and the most American of ideas that every person should be able to believe as they choose.

“Placing the 10 Commandments in school is not only detrimental to the young people from diverse religious backgrounds as well as from secular backgrounds, but also to the faith of Christians and Jews. As a Baptist minister and as a parent, I want my kids’ religious education to be done in the church and the home – not outsourced to the public school.

“This legislation flies in the face of our nation’s proud legacy of religious freedom for all and undercuts the vast majority of faithful Americans who are devoted to church-state separation. How we respond now will determine whether Texas is where religious freedom goes to die in this country. I’m confident that Texans of faith and conscience will not stand for this.”

If you are interested in speaking further with Interfaith Alliance, please contact Jonny Levenfeld at 202-704-4535 or jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com.

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Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.