Texas Attorney General Supports School Prayer Except for Muslim Students

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and US Senate candidate, has called for public school students to recite the Lord’s Prayer, specifying the King James Bible version. In a statement on September 1, 2025, Paxton said, “In Texas classrooms, we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up.” He criticized liberals for trying to “erase Truth” and claimed America was founded on “Biblical Truth.”

This follows the enactment of Senate Bill 11, which allows schools to allocate time for prayer and reading religious texts. Critics argue the bill promotes Christianity in public schools, violating the constitutional separation of church and state. Heidi Beirich of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism said, “They’re blowing right through separation of church and state,” and noted Paxton and others believe the US is a Christian nation.

Paxton’s past actions include a 2017 open letter expressing concerns about Muslim students praying at a Texas school, which critics called Islamophobic. The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) warned that Paxton’s approach could harm religious freedom for non-Christian students. CAIR stated, “Only if students of all faiths can freely worship on the same terms without any coercion or favoritism from the government will the Constitution be upheld.”

Paxton is also appealing a federal ruling blocking a law requiring Ten Commandments displays in schools. Observers suggest his recent statements may aim to regain conservative support amid personal controversies.

Sources

• Texas Attorney General’s Office Statement
• Texas Tribune on 2017 Prayer Room Controversy
• ProPublica on Christian Nationalism in Texas