A new bill introduced in Idaho on Thursday seeks to require Bible reading in all public schools, marking a significant step in the nationwide movement by Christian conservatives to reduce the separation between government and religion. Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, the legislation mandates that verses from the Bible be read daily, “without comment,” in every “occupied” classroom. The plan outlines that the entire Bible be read over the course of 10 years.
The bill includes provisions allowing teachers to opt out of the readings if they have a “conscience” objection, and it would also give students the option to skip participation, provided they have parental permission. Under the proposal, parents and other members of the public would have the right to sue if they believe the law is not being enforced, with the potential for a judge to compel compliance from the school.
Rep. Redman stated that the intent of the bill is to “cultivate morality and encourage good citizenship,” during a hearing with the House committee on Thursday. The Idaho Family Policy Center, a Christian lobbying group known for its previous work on laws limiting abortion and transgender rights in the state, is behind the drafting of the bill. Blaine Conzatti, president of the group, emphasized Idaho’s historical connection to religion during the hearing, referencing a 1925 law that required Bible reading in public schools.
However, this law was overturned in 1963 by the U.S. Supreme Court in its ruling on Abington School District v. Schempp, which barred school-sponsored prayer and Bible readings in public schools. The Court determined that such practices violate the First Amendment’s mandate for government neutrality on religious matters. The 1963 decision led to the invalidation of Idaho’s previous law by federal judges, although it remains officially on the books.
The Abington decision was part of a broader wave of mid-century rulings expanding civil liberties, which many conservative groups have since sought to reverse. Conzatti described the Supreme Court’s 1963 ruling as an “activist” decision, reflecting the perspective of many conservative critics of the Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment.
Constitutional law professor Richard Seamon of the University of Idaho told the Idaho Statesman that the proposed bill would clearly violate the 1963 ruling. However, Seamon noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has recently overturned certain restrictions on religious expression in public life, such as allowing a public school football coach to pray with players on the field, and requiring religious schools to be eligible for public school vouchers. This evolving trend in the Court’s decisions, Seamon suggests, could mean the potential for future challenges to the 1963 precedent.
“The trend is to uphold religious practices in the public sector that probably wouldn’t have survived under earlier case law,” Seamon said, citing the Court’s current focus on the “history and traditions” of the United States, particularly with a majority of justices appointed by Republican presidents.
Idaho is not alone in this movement. Last year, Oklahoma passed a law requiring Bible readings in public schools, while Louisiana mandated that the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms. Seamon indicated that the growing influence of recent Supreme Court decisions is emboldening advocates for a greater role of religion in public schools.
“Folks who believe that religion should have a greater role in public schools are taking this time and this trend of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions to challenge practices that were previously struck down,” he said.
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