Federal Judge Blocks Issuance Of 'I Believe' License Plate

Let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with Christians wanting to express their faith. It only becomes a problem when the government is sponsoring it. Such is the case in South Carolina.

Most states offer 'vanity' license plates for your vehicle, and often they come about because of public demand. The 'I Believe' tag in South Carolina was initiated by the State Legislature. The action was challenged by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, representing a group of concerned citizens.

“The ‘I Believe’ license plate is a clear example of government favoritism toward one religion,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The court drove home an important point: South Carolina officials have no business meddling in religious matters.”

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie today issued a preliminary injunction forbidding the state to issue or manufacture the plates. She also ordered the state to inform people who requested the plates that they will not be available and to remove information about the plates from the state Web site. Currie will release a written opinion on Monday.

Americans United brought the Summers v. Adams legal challenge on behalf of four local clergy the Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Summers, Rabbi Sanford T. Marcus, the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Knight and the Rev. Dr. Neal Jones as well as the Hindu American Foundation and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

In legal briefs, AU asserted that the “I Believe” license plate was unlike other specialty tags offered by the state. The measure authorizing the special plates was passed unanimously by both houses of the legislature, with the active support of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Americans United also pointed out that some legislators openly admitted that they would not vote for similar plates for minority faiths.

Asked by a reporter if he would support a license plate for Islam, Rep. Bill Sandifer replied, “Absolutely and positively no…. I would not because of my personal belief, and because I believe that wouldn’t be the wish of the majority of the constituency in this house district.”

Said AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan, “The ‘I Believe’ license plate sends the message that South Carolina has a favored religion. That’s one message the state is not permitted to transmit.”

One commenter on the Washington Post web site summed it up this way:

Generally sounds just like the Taliban, if we only replace "Mohammed" with "God" or "Jesus." If we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it. This is not about being pro-Christianity or anti-Christianity, it is about being pro-Theocracy or anti-Theocracy. Theocracies, throughout time and spanning diverse religions, have proved to be the most repressive and cruel regimes imaginable. Let's honor both God and the wisdom of our founding fathers and keep religion out of our government.

Sounds like an excellent idea to me!