Florida Lawmakers Debate Offering a Christian License Plate

MIAMI �?nbsp; Florida drivers can order more than 100 specialty license plates celebrating everything from manatees to the Miami Heat, but one now under consideration would be the first in the nation to explicitly promote a specific religion.

The Florida Legislature is considering a specialty plate with a design that includes a Christian cross, a stained-glass window and the words "I Believe."

If the plate is approved, Florida would become the first state to have a license plate featuring a religious symbol that's not part of a college logo. Approval would almost certainly face a court challenge.

The problem with the state manufacturing the plate is that it "sends a message that Florida is essentially a Christian state" and, second, gives the "appearance that the state is endorsing a particular religious preference," said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Some lawmakers say the state should be careful. Rep. Kelly Skidmore said she is a Roman Catholic and goes to Mass on Sundays, but she believes the "I Believe" plate is inappropriate for the government to produce.

"It's not a road I want to go down. I don't want to see the Star of David next. I don't want to see a Torah next. None of that stuff is appropriate to me," said Skidmore, a Democrat who voted against the plate in committee. "I just believe that."

It also could face opposition as a violation of the separation of church and state.

The group asking for the "I Believe" plate, the Orlando-based nonprofit Faith in Teaching Inc., supports faith-based schools activities. The plate would cost drivers an extra $25 annual fee.

Approving the plate could open the state to legal challenges, according to Josie Brown, who teaches constitutional law at the University of South Carolina. And it's not certain who would win.

"It would be an interesting close call," Brown said.

Simon, of the ACLU, said approval of the plate could prompt many other groups to seek their own designs, and they could claim discrimination if their plans were rejected. That could even allow the Ku Klux Klan to get a plate, Simon said.

Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an "I Don't Believe" plate, for example, he would probably oppose it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352398,00.html

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{OK..................here we go again! It's especially interesting that this Bullard from " Faith in Teaching Inc" actually says that he would not want the same right given to atheists if they wanted a "I don't believe" licence plate. This is what I have been saying for a long time that these religious freaks { Yes...that is what they are!} use free speech to try and force their agenda but don't believe in free speech for anyone but themselves. The fact that other Christians would defend their motives when they know they are phony is quite frankly mind boggling.

Now to be fair..... even though I do not think this is a wise decision if carried through in Florida .....no one is being forced to buy the plates. They would just be there if someone wanted to express their religiosity on their own car....not un-similar to putting up one of those "God is coming" signs you see in farmers fields in rural America. However the producing and supplying of licence plates is done by the state government so any religious references on the plates would suggest state approval and if it's religious it's not allowed....right?

At least we are dealing with adults here and not the attempted forced indoctrination of children in our public schools as in my other post and frankly I don't see this as more problematic as the other is.

Would I be insulted if I saw an "I believe" Licence plate? Not in the least but I would support the ACLU as it seems to me to be too close for comfort to breaking the rules on the separation of church and state.

What do you think?}

Rose