Featuring a large cross against a stained glass window, the tag was authorized last year by the General Assembly.
In a 57-page decision, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie wrote that “the ‘I Believe’ Act’s primary effect is to promote a specific religion, Christianity.”
She also noted that state laws promoting one religion over others have been illegal in the United States since the nation was founded.
Currie focused on the role played by Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who had pushed for the South Carolina tag after a similar “I Believe” effort failed in Florida.
For his part, Bauer responded by calling Currie a “liberal judge appointed by (President) Bill Clinton” and said the ruling represented “another attack on Christianity.”
