South Carolina is making plans to issue plates featuring a Christian cross and the words "I Believe." Facing South reported last spring on Florida lawmakers' attempts to issue this same plate, but the plate was later rejected there because of concerns over separation of church and state.
South Carolina's legislature has not made a similar specialty plate available for any other faith.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a federal lawsuit last month, arguing that
South Carolina's plates violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition against government favoring one religion over another religion or non-religion.
"The state has made believers of non-Christian faiths feel that they are second-class citizens," Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told CNN. "Under our Constitution, that's impermissible."
Despite the constitutional challenge, some South Carolina lawmakers remain adamant. "We're not going to back down," South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer told CNN. "We're going to fight for a change. I'm tired of seeing Christians back down in fear of a lawsuit."
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