You Better Believe It: Christian license plate reportedly banned by U.S. District Court
The proposed South Carolina plate would have looked something like Florida's (pictured above)
Last year, the South Carolina state legislature approved a bill to establish a Christian-themed license plate depicting a cross in front of a stained-glass window and bearing the words "I Believe". The vote spurred public advocacy groups into action, decrying the move as a violation of the separation of church and state.
According to the Associated Press, a similar bill in Florida failed to pass into law, and now a U.S. district court has struck down the license plate in South Carolina as a First Amendment violation. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie took specific aim at the state's Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, the driving force behind the initiative, calling the move "an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin."
In addition to banning the plate, Judge Currie also ordered the state to reimburse the legal expenses of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, two groups which fought against the initiative and were, if you'll pardon the pun, decidedly cross.
[Sources: The Associated Press; The New York Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
mapoftazifosho 3:45PM (11/11/2009)
Thank god!
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StinkyPete 4:20PM (11/11/2009)
Hopefully not thanking for the pun. There is no pardon for that, the execution by firing squad must be carried out.
Steven 4:26PM (11/11/2009)
I am religious(ish) but the reason I agree with the judge's decision is that license plates are government-owned property, which I think shouldn't be be used to promote my, nor anyone else's religion.
Yes it says God on our money, but that is harder to reconcile than the issue at hand.
speed12sil 5:38PM (11/11/2009)
Steven:
Harder to reconcile? Nothing that money can't fix. I mean, looked at what your good o' Democrat President did to "save" the economy, only spent nearly 1 trillion (or is it actually more than) dollars on the stimulus project. Moving to the new bills with no mention of God shouldn't cost nearly as much.
I don't suppose you're not a Christian, since otherwise your opposing to this would be confounding, to say the least.
And yes, I'm not an American. I'd cringe to have to be stuck with such government that deems having a different plate is bringing the US back to the old age of religion and State being together.
John 9:50AM (11/12/2009)
I don't know why this plate scares so many people. Why does this plate anger people?What difference does it make? Sorry, I keep forgeting about the pride thing. This plate would bring in much needed revenue to the states that are hurting. Don't go crying when they raise your taxes, shut down programs and start laying people off. - http://www.itrustgodonly.com
Guneenya 3:48PM (11/11/2009)
Thank you, Judge Currie.
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Carlos 5:19PM (11/11/2009)
This is retarded, how the hell does having a license plate depicting a cross and saying i believe not separating church and state? Its a vanity plate? Jeeze this country is retarded.
Brian Feldman 6:29PM (11/11/2009)
because tax payer dollars will be used to produce that plate. It also advertises a specific ideology which, because it is a government license plate, combines church and state.
The Hit 7:28PM (11/11/2009)
At least here, in MA people pay for their own vanity plates, so the only taxpayer funding it would be the one requesting it. And how is it any different than supporting any other cause (like a sport team)??
ashwinaj 7:37PM (11/11/2009)
What? Don't you have to pay a fee/year for a vanity plate?
How is that related to tax dollars?
I can't imagine any license plate having a manufacturing price more than $1 and in the vanity stuff say another $2...
Brian Feldman 10:44PM (11/11/2009)
A vanity plate uses tax payer dollars. When purchasing one you are paying an additional amount. Transportation taxes and license fee still supports the system that distributes and manufactures the plates. While it's extremely low, everyone still pays for them. That's how taxes work.
Judy Zik 10:48PM (11/11/2009)
This is so stupid. People in Florida can already pay to get plates that say "In God We Trust". So I guess it is okay to trust God but not to believe in him.
If you want to get political you can get a "Family First" or "Choose Life" plate. You can get plates that show your love for any number of sports teams or causes. You can even get a plate with "Trees are cool" among other lame ass slogans. Why is it so criminal to say you believe in God, Allah or the Easter Bunny? The supposed separation of Church and State in the USA is a joke considering how much religion has to do with anything political in America these days.
As for the tax money. People pay yearly in Florida for Specialty Plates. The extra money made from the sale of the plates goes to support charities. The "In God We Trust" plate raises money for first responders.
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/
R Nair 5:56AM (11/12/2009)
I guess in the US, it is easy to forget the sensibility of having many religious majorities, so you may think tht you could privately fund to have religious symbols on state related things. How about stamps, or court rooms? How about a Mecca, or the wailing wall? I have the money to put on the cross from the church of scientology, or the symbols of civil war; would you like tht too. State has to be open for everyone and must promote harmony.
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I am with the judge on this one. Race, region (south north, east , west), and religion have done enough to divide us. Do we need to see more of these?!
Guneenya 7:35PM (11/12/2009)
LOL, I see that the theistards have been busy with the vote buttons.
@Carlos - I'm forced to agree with your closing remark, but no doubt for a very different reason.
Neil 3:46PM (11/11/2009)
Good.
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Rochester, NY 3:49PM (11/11/2009)
While I always enjoy seeing crazy Thumpers get schooled in basic American principles, the colors on that plate sure are pretty.
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homunculus 4:02PM (11/11/2009)
those are mets colors. ya gotta believe!
brettmarcus 8:14AM (11/12/2009)
Nowhere in the constitution does it say anything about seperation of church and state!
It guarantees ones believes. so, your 'basic American principles' are the exact reason these plates are one right to have. One Liberal abusive judge does not make concesus.
Please get Schooled
Rochester, NY 9:00AM (11/12/2009)
Put all the stoopid Jesus Fish emblems and God-bless ribbon magnets you want on your car. Wallpaper your ride with Christian bumper stickers... I don't care. That's your right to be tasteless and crude.
But do not ask the government to endorse your crazy.
RowFive 3:49PM (11/11/2009)
Justice done.
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