FRANKFORT, KY — In 1955, religious activists successfully convinced the United States Congress to replace the inspirational phrase “E Pluribus Unum” (“from many, one”) with “In God We Trust” on all domestic currency as a Cold War statement against Communism. The next year, the phrase became the official U.S. national motto. Now, a group of Kentuckians hope to display it on their automobiles in order to show their disapproval of pornography.Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana (ROCK) has begun using the internet to get the word out about its desire to make specialty license plates featuring the phrase available to Bible-believing citizens who share their moral outrage. According to MaryAnn Gramig, the group’s research and policy coordinator, more than 400 people have already signed an online petition in support of the plates.
ROCK hopes to see its application for such a plate accepted, and the funds raised by its sale directed toward assisting those it insists are harmed by pornography, sexual predators, and employment within the sex industry. Specifically mentioned in the mainstream press are women who want to stop working as exotic dancers and minors targeted by online predators.
Currently, ROCK operates the Stepping Out Ministries, which assists women who want to get out of the sex business. Alas for the ministry, Gramig says it’s short on funds. Naturally, that means tax payers should pick up the slack.
“The sooner the commonwealth approves this,” Gamig told the Lexington Herald-Reader, the sooner funding becomes available to reach some of the most vulnerable and hurting citizens.”
Given that each license plate would cost $34 – with an optional additional $10 donation specifically targeted for ROCK – the group stands to make good money if the plates become popular.
If approved, Kentucky will not be the first state to allow citizens to broadcast their faith via vanity license plates. Indiana’s “In God We Trust” plates have sold more than 1.6 million since January 2007.
Chances are good that the plate will be approved, given that a previous application by ROCK went by the wayside in part because it competed with a similar proposal by Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence), which would have funneled money to veteran’s programs. Ultimately, the Transportation Cabinet could not decide whether to approve ROCK’s application and although Gooch was able to gain unanimous support from the House, the full Senate declined to entertain a vote on the matter.
Now ROCK and the government need to determine whether another application is necessary or whether the previously submitted one can continue its progress.
Those concerned that governmental production and sale of a religious motto might violate the Constitution as an official endorsement of religion, ACLU of Kentucky executive director Michael Aldridge says otherwise. “It’s really a free speech issue,” he assures, pointing out that purchase of the plates would be voluntary, as would any additional donation to ROCK.
