Canyon Independent School District reinstated the Bible in its libraries after significant backlash and intervention by Texas lawmakers. The district had initially removed the text, citing compliance with House Bill 900, which bans “sexually explicit” material.
Superintendent Dr. Darryl Flusche explained to parents that passages referring to sexual activity prompted the removal. He encouraged families to obtain copies from local churches.
The TX legislature passed a law banning books with sexually explicit material, so the district decided to use that as an opportunity to ban the Bible. I have no idea which Biblical stories they claimed were explicit material.
— George (@BehizyTweets) December 30, 2024
The decision drew criticism from parents and community members. “The Bible has been a cornerstone of wisdom and morality for centuries. Removing it is an affront to our values,” said parent Regina Kiehne at a school board meeting. Many residents argued that the decision was a misinterpretation of the law.
State Rep. Jared Patterson, who sponsored HB 900, quickly intervened. He clarified that the law explicitly protects religious texts and criticized the district’s actions as both misguided and illegal. “The Bible should never have been removed,” Patterson wrote in a letter to the district.
Following Patterson’s intervention, Canyon ISD reversed its decision. Officials announced that the Bible had been restored to library shelves after reviewing the guidelines and state law.
Interest in the Bible has grown nationwide, with sales increasing by 22% this year compared to the same period in 2023.
