Oh Christ Not Again

A group that advocates separation of church and state filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to prevent South Carolina from becoming the first state to create "I Believe" license plates. How'd those ideas escape Florida?

The group contends that South Carolina's government is endorsing Christianity by allowing the plates, which would include a cross superimposed on a stained glass window. Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor and a rabbi in South Carolina, along with the Hindu American Foundation. Talk about multilateral agreement!

"I do believe these 'I Believe' plates will not see the light of day because the courts, I'm confident, will see through this," said the group's executive director. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for South Carolina, asks a judge to stop the state from making the plates and rule that the law allowing them violates the First Amendment. A spokeswoman said the state Department of Motor Vehicles had not yet received the lawsuit and planned to go ahead with the plates unless told otherwise. The agency plans to unveil the final design and start taking orders by late August.

The bill sailed through the Legislature with little discussion earlier this year. the governor let it become law without his signature because the state already allows private groups to create license plates for any cause. The Republican House Speaker said residents asked for a way to express their beliefs, and legislators responded. He disputed accusations that they were pandering to constituents in an election year."That's what critics always say when they see something they don't like," he said. "I think this has less to do with the First Amendment and more to do with their disdain for religion generally."

The group would not have opposed the "I Believe" plates had they been advocated by private groups. State law allows private groups to create specialty plates as long as they first collect either a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said last week that he is willing to put up the money, then get reimbursed, though the Department of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman said that isn't necessary. Bauer said the idea came from Florida, where a proposal for an "I Believe" tag failed. He called it a freedom-of-speech issue.

But a Methodist pastor who joined the lawsuit said the plate provokes discrimination. "I think this license plate really is divisive and creates the type of religious discord I've devoted my life to healing," he said. Another of the ministers said the plates cheapen the Christian message. "As an evangelical Christian, I don't think civil religion enhances the Christian religion. It compromises it. That's the fundamental irony. It's very shallow from a Christian standpoint."