Texas Democrat Calls Ten Commandments Ruling “Deeply Un-Christian”

A federal court ruling allowing Texas to require the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms has ignited fierce debate, with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico condemning the decision as both unconstitutional and contrary to Christian values.

The Democratic state representative, who is also a Presbyterian seminarian and former middle school teacher, criticized the recent 9-8 ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a Texas law mandating Ten Commandments displays in classrooms across the state.

“I don’t want anyone forcing their religion down my throat, and I certainly don’t want the government forcing a religion down my throat. So why would I do that to any of my neighbors?” Talarico said during a CNN appearance. “I think this is an unconstitutional decision, I also think this is a deeply un-Christian decision, because we are supposed to be loving all of our neighbors, particularly our neighbors of other faiths.”

The court’s majority opinion found that the Texas law does not violate either the Constitution’s Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause, stating that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that Senate Bill 10 “substantially burdens their right to religious exercise.”

Talarico, however, argued that the law contradicts the core Christian teaching of loving one’s neighbor. “My faith teaches me to love my neighbor as myself. Not just my neighbors who look like me, not just my neighbors who vote like me, not just my neighbors who pray like me,” he explained. He expressed particular concern about the impact on Texans of different faiths, including those who are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, agnostic and atheist.

The ruling represents a significant development in ongoing debates about religious displays in public institutions. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently engaged in a bitter primary runoff with incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn, praised the decision as “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

“The 10 Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton stated. “My office was proud to defend SB 10 and successfully ensure that the Ten Commandments will be displayed in classrooms across Texas.”

The exchange between Talarico and Paxton grew heated when Talarico took aim at the attorney general’s moral authority, saying with a smile, “I’m not sure that Ken Paxton is in a place to lecture us on moral values.” Paxton fired back on social media, accusing Talarico of being “completely and totally morally bankrupt.”

Talarico’s Senate campaign has generated significant attention as Democrats see an opportunity to flip a Texas Senate seat that has been in Republican hands for decades. His victory would be a substantial blow to Republican efforts to maintain or expand their Senate majority in November’s elections.

When asked to elaborate on his position, Talarico doubled down, telling Fox News Digital that “the separation of church and state is a sacred boundary that doesn’t just benefit the state — it also benefits the church, because when the church gets too cozy with political power, it loses its prophetic voice.”

Talarico has opposed the Ten Commandments bill as “idolatrous” for years during his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives. He warned against what he described as “Christian nationalism,” stating that “the most dangerous form of government is theocracy” and that “the only thing worse than a tyrant is a tyrant who thinks they’re on a mission from God.”

The controversy highlights the continuing tension between religious expression in public spaces and constitutional provisions regarding the separation of church and state. As the law takes effect, Texas schools will be required to display the Ten Commandments in a prominent location in each classroom, adding another chapter to the ongoing national debate about religion’s role in public education.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Senator Cornyn offered a brief statement: “We support the ruling.”