The state plans to issue plates bearing the words "I Believe" set against a Christian cross, but a group advocating separation of church and state says that the design goes too far.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which includes Christian, Jewish and Hindu clergy, filed a federal lawsuit last month. The group says that the license plate violates the Constitution's provision on favoring one religion over any other.
South Carolina is the first state to offer Christian tags. Last month Governor Mark Sanford allowed the bill to become law without signing it. The bill was unanimously passed in state legislature.
"I think it allows people of faith to profess that they believe in a higher calling, they believe in God," said Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
Bauer offered to personally pay the $4,000 deposit required for the Motor Vehicle Administration to begin producing the plates. The fee will be returned to him later.
Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said that Bauer's willingness to pay the deposit "more deeply confirms this is a government-sponsored program."
Lynn added that he believes the plate will never be seen in South Carolina because the group's Constitutional Claim is concrete.
South Carolina's legislature has not made specialty plates available for any other religion.
While residents can ask the DMV to print plates for their faith - for $4,000 each - the request would be limited. The plate could feature a religious symbol, but no words such as the Christian "I Believe."
"The state has made believers of non-Christian faiths feel that they are second-class citizens," Lynn said. "Under our Constitution, that's impermissible."
Bauer said allowing Christians to have a specialty license plate is freedom of speech. He said those who oppose are prejudiced against Christians.
"We're not going to back down," Bauer said. "We're going to fight for a change. I'm tired of seeing Christians back down in fear of a lawsuit."
