The directive sent Thursday to superintendents across the state says adherence to the mandate is compulsory and ‘immediate and strict compliance is expected.’
Religion & Values
Louisiana’s new law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms churns old political conflicts
Under the new law, all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities will be required to display a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in ‘large, easily readable font’ next year.
New law requires all Louisiana public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments
Proponents said the measure is not solely religious, but that it has historical significance.
Hundreds died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia amid intense heat, officials say
Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures for those attending the annual 5-day pilgrimage, but the sheer number of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult.
Pilgrims commence the final rites of Hajj as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
Fourteen pilgrims from Jordan died from sunstroke, and a spokesman for the Saudi Health Ministry said more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress Sunday alone.
U.S. Catholic bishops approve outreach to Native Americans, acknowledge boarding school traumas
New guidelines outlining outreach to Native American Catholics was completed as details emerge of decades of widespread abuses inflicted on Native children at Catholic boarding schools.
An account of Jesus as a boy is decoded from an ancient papyrus scrap
The 1,600-year-old manuscript had sat unnoticed for decades. Experts say it may be the oldest written document detailing Jesus’ childhood.
Federal court denies Bangor church’s request for injunction in tuition lawsuit
Crosspoint Church, which runs Bangor Christian Schools, is challenging the stipulation in Maine’s Human Rights Act that prohibits schools receiving state funding from discriminating based on gender identity, sexual orientation and religion.
Billions in taxpayer dollars now go to religious schools via vouchers
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme ruled that a program providing tuition aid to students in rural areas in Maine without public schools could not exclude religious education.
Vatican apologizes after Pope Francis is accused of using homophobic slur
The pope’s choice of words in a closed-door meeting with bishops appeared to run counter to his efforts to thaw the relationship with the LGBTQ+ community.