Bible verse in NC sheriff's office violates First Amendment, watchdog group says

A national watchdog organization is asking for a North Carolina sheriff to remove a Bible verse from the walls of its office.

In the hallway of the Columbus County Sheriff's Office is a large Bible verse that reads, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation says that this is a direct violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits any government agency from establishing an official religion and prohibits government actions that favor one religion over another, according to Cornell Law School.

The FFRF says in a statement that the Columbus County Sheriff's Office "is meant to serve all citizens regardless of belief or nonbelief." According to Pew Research, 65% of Americans say they are Christians and around 26% are non-religious.

“The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office must serve all citizens equally, whether Christian or non-Christian,” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said in a statement. “A blatantly Christian message in a law enforcement division sends a message of exclusion.”

WECT News reports that a spokesperson for Sheriff Jody Greene said "the bible verse on the wall will not be coming down.”

An attorney with FFRF told WECT the organization is considering filing a lawsuit against the sheriff's office.