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HAF calls out selective pluralism after Texas school ruling
The controversial Ten Commandments display law was previously blocked by a federal judge in August 2025.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 23, Apr 2026
- 00:56 EDT
- 22
Hindu American Foundation logo / HAF
The Hindu American Foundation has raised concerns about religious neutrality in public institutions hours after a federal appeals court permitted the state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas public school classrooms.
In a long-contested legal challenge with likely effects on similar pushes in Arkansas and Louisiana, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the law. The law, passed earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Legislature, mirrors legislation in Louisiana and Arkansas that has also been halted in court.
The court noted that the mandate does not violate the constitutional rights of students or their parents.
The decision drew strong criticism from multiple social and community groups.
ALSO READ: How US public schools became a new religious battleground
Reacting to the court order, the Hindu American Foundation said on X, “The decision to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas public school classrooms, and its judicial endorsement, raises serious concerns about religious neutrality in public institutions.”
It continued, “If a policy advances a particular religious tradition, it should be acknowledged transparently.”
The community organization also highlighted the need for consistency in upholding “genuine pluralism,” instead of selective application.
The decision to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas public school classrooms, and its judicial endorsement, raises serious concerns about religious neutrality in public institutions. If a policy advances a particular religious tradition, it should be acknowledged…
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 22, 2026
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the three organizations representing the 15 parents who appealed the law, expressed their disappointment in a joint statement.
They said, “We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision. The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority.”
The organizations continued, “The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights. We anticipate asking the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and uphold the religious freedom rights of children and parents.”
The controversial law was previously blocked by a federal judge in August 2025.
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