The state of Ohio was once sued because of its official state motto

 

The state of Ohio was once sued because of its official state motto

Ohio’s state motto is “With God, All Things Are Possible.”

In 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) decided they had a bone to pick with this motto, as they believed it goes against the US Constitution’s First Amendment. The amendment was put in place to protect freedom of religion.

Their claim was ultimately rejected due to a technicality.

As Ohio’s motto doesn’t specify which god makes all things possible, it’s not infringing on anyone’s religious freedom.Ohio’s state motto is “With God, All Things Are Possible.”

 federal appeals court in Cincinnati sided Tuesday with the American Civil Liberties Union, agreeing that the state’s motto, “In God, all things are possible,” violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

If the 2-1 ruling stands, the state will have to pry the bronze placard from the sidewalk at Capitol Square Plaza in Columbus, delete the phrase from the secretary of state’s stationery and print God-less tax forms.

“In times of great religious fervor, when people feel a mandate to carry their religion out into the world, the 1st Amendment becomes even more important,” said Chris Link, executive director of the ACLU of Ohio. “Separation of church and state, and the free expression clause in the 1st Amendment . . . were envisioned to protect the sanctity of religion as much as they were to protect government.”