(AgapePress) - Virginia Governor Mark Warner has signed legislation requiring the posting of the national motto in every public school throughout the commonwealth.

On Friday, Warner signed SB 608, legislation about which he had initially voiced concern. He had stated he was fearful a law requiring posting of "In God We Trust" might lead to students in public schools being coerced to cover any costs associated with signs for their schools. But the governor dropped his objections after the legislation's sponsors assured him that private donors will pay the costs.

"While I have expressed grave concerns about some measures that raise constitutional concerns, such as those involving posting of the Ten Commandments, I have no objection to posting the national motto in schools," Warner said in an official statement.

"I was concerned that the General Assembly's plan could conceivably lead to students in public school classes being coerced to help pay for the school's sign," he said. "I have received assurances from the patrons of this legislation that private donors are available to fund appropriate signs for this purpose. Accordingly, I have signed these measures into law.”

Earlier in the day, a Virginia-based pro-family group -- the Family Policy Network -- notified Warner that an anonymous donor in Richmond had volunteered to donate 3,000 prints of the national motto, and that FPN would cover the cost of distributing the posters to school superintendents throughout the state.

Joe Glover

Joe Glover is president of the Family Policy Network. He said the governor's action was a welcome surprise. "He's already indicated, through other means, that he just doesn't like these public expressions of faith in God," Glover says. "I'm not sure whether they make him squeamish or whether he worries about his extreme-liberal, left ideological base within the Democratic Party being upset with him -- but he certainly does not like these public expressions of faith in God."

Glover had been critical of Warner's handling of the issue over the past several months, saying the governor was "in the back pocket" of groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way that opposed the legislation. He had stated that ultimately, the legislation was going to be force Warner to decide "whether he's for God or against Him." He also charged Warner with attempting to "poison" an earlier version of the bill with his own amendments requiring the postings be funded by the state. [See related stories from April 5, 2002, and April 22, 2002]

One of those not pleased with the governor's final decision on SB 608 is Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. Willis told The Virginian-Pilot that posting the words in schools is of particular concern.

"Young students seeing those words on the classroom wall do not necessarily know it is the national motto," Willis said. "What they see is a religious statement from the state or the government to them. The government is supposed to be neutral on religion."

The new law affects nearly 2,000 public schools in the state. Glover says his group's goal is to have the posters in the hands of school officials before July 4.

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