A federal judge has blocked a controversial Texas law that would have required public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, ruling that the measure likely violates the U.S. Constitution and religious freedom protections.

In a 55-page decision issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery said the law, Senate Bill 10, “impermissibly takes sides on theological questions” and could pressure students into adopting specific religious views.

The temporary injunction halts enforcement of the law across several school districts, including Houston, Austin, and Fort Bend County.

The law, which was set to take effect on September 1, would have mandated that schools post a specific version of the Ten Commandments in a 16-by-20-inch framed display in every classroom.

Critics argued that the legislation imposed a religious message in a public school setting, infringing on the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Christian leaders and families were divided over the issue. While some considered the Ten Commandments a moral foundation worth promoting, others — including numerous faith-based advocacy groups — welcomed the judge’s ruling as a vital defense of religious liberty.

“Religious instruction must come from families and churches, not the state,” said Rabbi Mara Nathan, a plaintiff in the case.

Judge Biery concluded his ruling with a nod to faith and civility: “Grace and peace unto you. Amen.”

The decision is the latest in a series of legal battles over similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas, and legal experts expect the question of religious displays in public schools may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.