Effort emerges to remove Ohio's religious motto: 'With God, all things are possible'

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Some Ohio residents are pushing the state to remove its motto, “With God, all things are possible,” over concerns that it promotes a specific religion. 

Tyquawn Darrisaw, 21, of Cleveland, started an online petition on Sept. 8 to urge the state’s legislature to get rid of Ohio’s motto, which is a direct quote from the Bible, specifically Matthew 19:26. Darrisaw said that the state’s use of a religious motto “conflicts with the principle of government neutrality” and raises concerns regarding the separation of church and state.

“We should have a state motto that represents all residents equally, regardless of their religious beliefs,” Darrisaw said. “The current motto may alienate non-religious citizens and those of different faiths, potentially conveying state endorsement of a particular religious belief.”

The petition has a goal of 1,000 signatures and had just under 600 as of Wednesday. Darrisaw said he has used the social media platform Reddit to help the effort gain momentum and plans to print flyers. If the petition does not reach its goal, Darrisaw said he intends to continue his effort, but “not necessarily in a public way.”

“If we hit 1,000, the next step would be to go out in public, talk to people, gather written signatures and put up posters,” Darrisaw said. “I don’t think 1,000 signatures alone will create change; we’d need a lot more support to truly make a difference.”

A handful of states have mottos with generic references to God, but Ohio is the only state with a motto that contains a direct quote from the Bible. 

Ohio has a history of controversial mottos. In 1866, the legislature approved the motto “Imperium in Imperio” – a Latin phrase meaning “An Empire Within an Empire” – but it faced public backlash over its “pretentious feudal meaning,” according to the Ohio Historical Society. Therefore, the legislation was repealed a year later. 

After about 92 years without a state motto, Ohio adopted “With God, all things are possible” in 1959. The change came after 12-year-old Cincinnati resident James Mastronardo collected signatures and testified before the legislature in support of the motto, which was one of his mother’s favorite phrases, according to the state website. 

That motto has also faced opposition, and not just in the form of Darrisaw’s petition. In 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union sued Ohio, alleging the motto improperly intertwines government and religion. A three-judge panel for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially sided with the ACLU, ruling the motto is a government endorsement of the Christian faith. However, upon a review by the full court, the decision was reversed, with judges concluding the motto was a “generic” reference to God and did not mention any one religion. 

Ohio’s state website also claims the motto is “not intended to endorse a specific deity, but instead stands as a generic expression of optimism.” 

Federal courts have long held that generic references to God are permitted under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment – which prohibits the government from establishing a religion – including phrases like “In God We Trust” on currency and “one Nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

But Darrisaw argued Ohio’s motto, which originates from the Christian faith, potentially conveys a state endorsement of a particular religious belief. He said this could lead people of other faiths to feel the state does not represent them equally. 

He also argued having the motto on items everyone uses, such as a driver’s license, is unfair because it could put nonbelievers in an uncomfortable position, forcing them to carry a message they may not agree with. 

“This isn’t about attacking anyone’s beliefs,” Darrisaw said. “I respect everyone’s beliefs, even if they don’t always respect mine. It’s about making Ohio a place that’s fair and welcoming for everyone, without putting labels on people.”

The state’s motto can be seen in a variety of places, including on the letterheads of some state and county agencies, the Franklin County flag, an engraving near the Ohio Statehouse and driver’s licenses. 

NBC4 asked the Ohio Council of Churches — a partnership of 17 Christian denominations encompassing 4,000 congregations — for its stance on the effort. Executive Director Rev. Jack Sullivan, Jr. sent the following statement:

“Rather than serving as a motto of a religiously diverse state, a better use of scripture is to inspire adherents to model their faith through loving their neighbors, working for justice, and teaching nonviolence and peacemaking. Such compelling, scripture-based Christian faith actions have greater potential to influence the public than any motto.”

Spokespeople for Republican and Democratic caucuses in the Ohio Statehouse did not respond to requests for comment.