LTE in The State re "I Believe" plates

There is a great LTE in The State today opposing the unconstitutional "I Believe" plates, which I mentioned two months ago. (For more background, and you'll have to hold your nose as you visit the site, see this video.)

‘I Believe’ tags threaten religious freedom of all, Christians included

Having been a Presbyterian now for more than a decade, it is also out of my Baptist roots that I continue a lifelong commitment to religious liberty and its corollary, the separation of church and state. It was that itinerant Baptist preacher John Leland who was most instrumental in solidifying the views of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in assuring our well-being and posterity for what Jefferson later described as “the wall of separation” between church and state.

When the General Assembly passed the religious license plate bill and the governor allowed it to become law without his signature, some proponents acknowledged it would be challenged in court. And I commend the clergymen who are the plaintiffs — United Methodist Tom Summers, Unitarian Neal Jones, Jewish Rabbi Sanford Marcus and First Christian Church pastor Robert Knight.

For government to issue religious license plates is clearly unconstitutional. It is contrary to the First Amendment’s establishment clause that prohibits government from advancing or endorsing any religion, be it Christianity, Hinduism, Buddism, Islam or any other. There is no majoritarian exception.

Religious liberty means that each person can become an adherent to the faith of his or her choosing, or can choose not to be a believer. It means that the religious experience is between God and the human heart and mind. It means that faith never can be coerced, as well-meaning as government, the church, the synagogue, the temple or the mosque may be.

We don’t look to government for permission to believe, nor is it government’s prerogative to approve or disapprove our practice. Government is without competence in religious matters.

We are free to put personal religious decals on our vehicles. We are free to put religious symbols in our yards or our businesses. We are free to witness to our faith in the public square as long as we are not disruptive (e.g., a student cannot disrupt the teaching process in a public school classroom).

There are some who seek unconstitutionally to draw government into the most sacred precincts of our being. Some would see this as a means to curry favor with certain voters.

But as South Carolinians with deep individual faith or with no religious faith, let us never trample the freedoms that have made us unique, especially the freedom to worship. I will continue to “render” to both God and Caesar. May government and religion remain ever separate. This is best for both.

FLYNN HARRELL

Columbia

Well-spoken. See AU and this item for more.