Texas families take 10 Commandments law fight to Supreme Court

More than two dozen Texas families asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to hear their challenge to Senate Bill 10, the state law that requires public schools to post a version of the 10 Commandments in a visible spot in every classroom.

The families come from 22 school districts and practice various faiths or none. Their appeal targets an April ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court upheld the law against claims that it violates the First Amendment's establishment clause, the provision that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, and the free exercise clause, which protects the right to practice religion freely.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation represent the families.

"Texas politicians shouldn't have a seat at the table in deciding how our children receive their religious education," said plaintiffs Rebekah and Ted Lowe of Austin, who are raising their children in Christian and Jewish religious traditions. "This law puts one version of religious beliefs above all other in our public schools and sends a message to our children that what we teach them about religion at home is somehow wrong."