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UG Update: Judge Blocks "I Believe" License Plate
If you ordered one of South Carolina's new "I Believe" license plates, your wait may be longer than anticipated.
A federal judge ruled Thursday that the state must stop marketing and making the specialty plate that features the image of a cross and the words "I Believe." U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie said the case needs to be heard in court. She plans to release a written opinion Monday.
The case was brought by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of several South Carolina clergy members. The AU's lawsuit claimed the new plate violates the constitution.
"The 'I Believe' license plate is a clear example of government favoritism toward one religion," Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said Thursday in a statement. "The court drove home an important point: South Carolina officials have no business meddling in religious matters."
David Waters
| December 11, 2008; 3:42 PM ET | Category: Under GodShare: Email a Friend |
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Posted by: Freestinker | December 11, 2008 5:20 PM
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Good. We've been all through this, and it clearly doesn't do anybody any good.
Even if you did put other religions' symbols on a license plate, it wouldn't have the same effect as it does when certain Christian persuasions are trying to claim special privileges, while having no reasonable fear they'd be discriminated against because of it.
It was always just Fundies trying to mark territory in the first place.
Posted by: Paganplace | December 11, 2008 5:43 PM
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Freestinker makes the point that trumps all others: since license plates are the property of the state, putting a cross on them wouldn't be any different from putting a giant cross on the lawn of city hall or the statehouse.
Beyond this, all arguments are moot.
Posted by: kjohnson3 | December 12, 2008 11:20 AM
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You know what would be funny? One of these license plates with the vanity message "ATHE1ST"...
Posted by: Robert_B1 | December 16, 2008 1:54 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
That all religious opinions are not treated equally is one problem with this law. Another problem is that license plates are state government property. Citizens pay a fee to get one but they don't own them. You have to return them when you're done with them because they are government property. Would the government likewise be permitted to display an Islamic Crescent on it's driver's license application form if a citizen paid a fee and requested an application form with one on it? I don't think so.