US District Judge Cameron Currie ruled Tuesday that the state legislature, which in 2008 voted unanimously to approve the license plates that also include a cross in front of a stained glass window, had thus clearly given favored government treatment to a single faith in violation of the Constitution.
"Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same," Currie wrote in a 57-page order.
"The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation."
Christian rights activists labeled the decision an attack on their faith.
"For those who say proclaiming 'I believe' violates the Constitution by giving preference to Christianity, I think this lawsuit clearly discriminates against persons of faith," South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, who initiated the legislation, told The Greenville News.
"I will ask the state attorney general to vigorously appeal this ruling because it is time that people stand up for their beliefs. Enough is enough."
But Mark Plowden, a spokesman for state Attorney General Henry McMaster, told the newspaper that South Carolina's top law enforcement officer could not appeal the ruling, although it "utterly disappointed" him.
But Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a religious liberty group that brought the legal challenge to the bill before the court, hailed Currie's decision.
"This is great news," Americans United executive director Reverend Barry Lynn said in a statement.
"Some officials seem to want to use religion as a political football.... That's an appalling misuse of governmental authority, and I am thrilled that the judge put a stop to it."
His Washington-based group filed a lawsuit on behalf of four local clergy -- three pastors and a rabbi -- the Hindu American Foundation and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
On the third day of issue, 400 people had already ordered the license plates.
In most US states, a driver can choose a customized license plate for 20 to 30 dollars, in the name of groups defending state-approved causes or in their own name.
Flyfishing enthusiasts, animal rights activists, veterans or even anti-abortion activists -- who proclaim to be "4LIFE" -- thus make their own personal stamp on US roads. (AFP)
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