The South Carolina State Legislature has unanimously approved a bill to create a so-called Christian license plate. The plate will feature a gold Christian cross over a stained-glass window, with the words “I Believe” underneath. A similar bill was considered by Florida’s legislature last year, but was eventually rejected as violating separation of church and state.
The South Carolina bill has also sparked controversy: a lawsuit was filed in federal court in June by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonprofit organization which includes Christian, Hindu and Jewish clergy, as well as agnostic and atheist members. The group is claiming that the proposed South Carolina Christian license plate will violate the U.S. Constitution mandated separation of church and state.
Interestingly, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford did not veto the bill, but instead allowed it to pass into law without signing it — surely a political move to cover his flank. South Carolina lieutenant governor André Bauer was far more explicit in his support of the bill, and even offered to personally pay the $4000 deposit required by the state Department of Motor Vehicles to initiate production of the new plates.
Separation of church and state advocates say that the South Carolina bill is clearly in violation of the Constitution. South Carolinians of faiths other than Christianity, Jewish or Hindu residents for example, will not be able to get a license plate proclaiming their faiths. Neither will agnostics or atheists have the option of getting a plate announcing their point of view.
Because of this obvious bias, many legal experts believe the South Carolina law does not stand a chance when contested in federal court. However, Lieutenant Governor Bauer insists that the Christian license plate is a simple matter of freedom of speech, and claims that efforts to block the plates are an example of prejudice and oppression against the Christian majority in the state.
But for Christians and non-Christians alike, there is a subtle aspect to this controversy that is being overlooked. The United States Constitution (wisely) mandates a separation of church and state; and it is not only to protect nonbelievers from a state-sponsored religion — it is also necessary to protect religion from the meddling of the US government. After all, how many Christians want the United States government exercising control over their religious beliefs?
Once the government becomes officially involved in sponsoring or sanctioning any religion, it opens the door for further government interference with that religion. How long would it be, for example, until the government officially preferred one denomination of Christianity over another, infuriating millions of churchgoers?
In all likelihood, however, the South Carolina law will be struck down in federal court. And, at the end of the day, this will benefit not only nonbelievers and those of other faiths, but Christians as well.
