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S.C. 'I Believe' tag challenged in court
The federal lawsuit filed in Columbia, S.C., alleged the Legislature's approval of the plate "improperly advances and endorses religion," discriminates against faiths other than Christianity and violates freedom of speech, The State, a Columbia newspaper, reported.
The plate has the words "I Believe" and a cross on a stained-glass window background. The bill authorizing the plates became law without Gov. Mark Sanford's signature, The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston, S.C., reported.
"The South Carolina Legislature's decision to align itself with a single religion -- Christianity -- runs afoul of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution," the lawsuit said.
The state's Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who drafted the legislation, said in a statement, "For those who say this violates the Constitution by giving preference to Christianity, I think this lawsuit clearly discriminates against persons of faith."
One plaintiff, the Rev. Neal Jones, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbia, told The State, "As a citizen, I resent the fact that our Legislature is acting in a way that favors one group of citizens."
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.
This news arrived on: 06/20/2008
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Posted Comments:
06-23-2008 00:52
GRAMMA CONNIE wrote:
I BELIEVE
Take all the crosses down, pound the statues into dust,remove God from the Pledge. It can't stop 2000 yrs of Faith. I have a Christian friend who abhors the cross because of Christ's 'Murder' True Faith doesn't require symbols and worshipping these things comes close to idolatry. Just an opinion
06-22-2008 16:44
Julian Tebye wrote:
A Few Other Things
Over the years, the selective religion of Christianity has crept into the government. I believe it is unConstitutional (and I find it offensive) that the USA has the motto: "In God We Trust". That is clearly promoting one religion over another!
I also think it is unConstitutional (and I find it offensive) to see "In God We Trust" on every coin and bill.
While I'm at it--I believe it is unConstitutional for a witness to swear on a Bible. The Bible is a Christian work! Also presidents and other public officials swear on The Bible to uphold the Constitution! To my mind, this is clearly unConstitutional!
The First Amendment was created and passed by Christians! It means to protect everyone's right to believe as he/she wishes!
I am an atheist. Isn't it rather ridiculous for me to swear an oath on The Bible?! But, in any court, I am FORCED to do so!
Is this--or is it not--unConstitutional?
I also think it is unConstitutional (and I find it offensive) to see "In God We Trust" on every coin and bill.
While I'm at it--I believe it is unConstitutional for a witness to swear on a Bible. The Bible is a Christian work! Also presidents and other public officials swear on The Bible to uphold the Constitution! To my mind, this is clearly unConstitutional!
The First Amendment was created and passed by Christians! It means to protect everyone's right to believe as he/she wishes!
I am an atheist. Isn't it rather ridiculous for me to swear an oath on The Bible?! But, in any court, I am FORCED to do so!
Is this--or is it not--unConstitutional?
06-22-2008 16:36
Julian Tebye wrote:
Further Comments
I repeatedly see online the question: "Should prayer be allowed in schools?"
This implies that prayer is forbidden in schools. It is not! Any teacher or student may pray in school (just so it doesn't disrupt the class routine and discipline).
The ACLU sometimes gets carried away--but the point is that a teacher or authority figure cannot LEAD the class in a Christian or other denominational prayer! THAT is unConsitutional! Not prayer itself!
This implies that prayer is forbidden in schools. It is not! Any teacher or student may pray in school (just so it doesn't disrupt the class routine and discipline).
The ACLU sometimes gets carried away--but the point is that a teacher or authority figure cannot LEAD the class in a Christian or other denominational prayer! THAT is unConsitutional! Not prayer itself!
06-22-2008 16:31
Julian Tebye wrote:
First Amendment
The First Amendment was written and passed by Christians--not atheists or Communists. For any state to provide license plates promoting any one religion is acceptable--ONLY if they provide plates promoting all other religions (and atheism).
To promote Christianity solely is simply unConstitutional! The First Amendment actually protects your right to believe as you wish--just so you don't force others to believe as you believe.
To promote Christianity solely is simply unConstitutional! The First Amendment actually protects your right to believe as you wish--just so you don't force others to believe as you believe.
06-21-2008 16:47
mit wrote:
why is it so troubling? man I get tired of this
when we are not allowed to display a symbol of what we believe as it makes others feel badly we are being subject to censure and if we want a license plate made by a prisoner of the justice system that has a cross and stainglass window and are willing to pay bucks to aquire it why not, I have from a freind a picture of Arlington National Cemetery and it is cover in crosses and stars of david markers for the fallen soldiers, that is federal land what are we doing next taking it all down so as to not offend, 3%atheist's do not run this country and the constitution was written by Christian men of faith,
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