January 18, 2011 1:55 PM

Alabama Governor: Only Christians are my Brothers

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Republicans ,
State Politics

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

(Credit: www.governor.alabama.gov)

Updated Jan. 19, 5:55 p.m. ET

Alabama Republican Governor Robert Bentley said in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day message Monday that he does not consider Americans who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior to be his brothers and sisters.

"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit," Bentley said shortly after taking the oath of office, according to the Birmingham News. ''But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister."

''Now I will have to say that, if we don't have the same daddy, we're not brothers and sisters," he continued. "So anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother."

American Atheists President David Silverman told Hotsheet that the comments were "bigoted" and show that Bentley "puts his Bible above the Constitution of the United States."

"There is a difference between being a governor and being a mullah, or being a preacher," he said. "Being the governor of all people means that you are a representative of all people. It certainly does not mean that you abuse your position to push your religion on people who differ from your faith."

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish rights group, also condemned the comments.

"It is shocking that Governor Bentley would suggest that non-Christians are not worthy of the same love and respect he professes to have for the Christian community," ADL Southeast Regional Director Bill Nigut said. "His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor."

Nigut added: "Governor Bentley's remarks suggest that he is determined to use his new position to proselytize for Christian conversion. If he does so, he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion."

Asked about Bentley's comments, his communications director, Rebekah Caldwell Mason, told the Birmingham News, "He is the governor of all the people, Christians, non-Christians alike."

While Bentley, a deacon at a Baptist church, drew a distinction between Christians and non-Christians in his comments, he also said he was "color blind" and would represent all the people in his state.

Bentley's comments may not be much of a problem for the new governor. During the Alabama GOP gubernatorial primary, candidate Bradley Byrne was attacked for allegedly suggesting that evolution, as opposed to creationism, "best explains the origin of life."

His response was to deem the ad awash in "despicable lies" and insist, "As a Christian and as a public servant, I have never wavered in my belief that this world and everything in it is a masterpiece created by the hands of God." He went on to tout his efforts to ensure creationism be taught in public schools.

UPDATE, Jan. 19: On Wednesday, Bentley met with members of Alabama's Jewish community and publicly apologized for his remarks, promising to serve all his constituents, regardless of their faith.


Add a Comment See all 1275 Comments
by CarlosEUA November 24, 2011 12:42 PM EST
apologize for what? Especially those well paid politicians need to turn their brains on before they make those stupid statements and not come after and apologize. That's why this country is collapsing because the ones that claim to be Christians are the most perverse,hateful and anti Christ possible. Out with people like that.
Reply to this comment
by hazembrandon January 25, 2011 12:56 AM EST
I dont want to be your brother nor do i want you to be my brother,you Christians got it all wrong ( Jesus died for our sins,easy salvation for you.....check the sign of Noah in the old testment he told you that he didnt die) but you are nothing more than a human worshipper ,you are worshipping a human...
God sent his messanger ( Muhmmed) with guidence and the religion of truth ( Islam) so it may superseed ALL OTHER RELIGIONS EVEN IF THE NONBELIVERS ( YES THATS INCLUDING CHRISTIANS) DONT LIKE IT ....QURAN
Reply to this comment
by Jimad January 22, 2011 1:33 PM EST
So he's one of those old testament Christians who subscribe to that angry jealous god.
It seems to me he's missing the whole point of his religion.
He's turning Alabama into TALABAMA.
Reply to this comment
by jeffsmith9 January 21, 2011 4:13 PM EST
Roll Tide!

Sigh...
Reply to this comment
by mickey232310 January 21, 2011 3:03 PM EST
What a deranged fellow. A little arrogant too. What makes him think I want to be his brother in the first place? I'll determine if he is my brother or not... and I can tell you right now WE DEFINATELY ARE NOT RELATED. But alas, no harm done to me, he is not the governor of my state. I feel bad for Alabama though, this simpleton should not be administrating anything save for a Church bake sale perhaps.
Reply to this comment
by Th2Shay January 21, 2011 2:56 AM EST
That's fine by me, I definately ain't your sister.
Reply to this comment
by 1pheasant1 January 21, 2011 12:14 AM EST
"If we don't have the same daddy, we're not brothers and sisters"


Did he mean all Christians? Including the descendants of those who were once enslaved in his great state? It is the white question to ask!
Reply to this comment
by Scimajor January 20, 2011 9:42 PM EST
"A man who believes he is a true Christian...."

Forgive me but I was unaware that a "true Christian" was an intolerant bigot that bases their opinion of their fellow man based on their religious persuasion or lack thereof. Scratch that. I did know that. Never mind.
Reply to this comment
by BFlene January 20, 2011 5:05 PM EST
Thank God Thank God America finally has an elected official that isn't ashamed to let the world know he is a Christian. He was referring to brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are a born again Christian covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ then anyone that is not saved is not your brother and sister in Christ. If your blood brother or sister in the flesh isn't saved they aren't your brother or sister in Christ and they won't go to Heaven. I don't care if you are Black, White, Striped, Republican, Democrat, or Independent or a Muslem if you aren't saved you will split Hell wide open and believe me there is a Hell to shun and a Heaven to live fro.
Reply to this comment
by daffy64 January 20, 2011 5:25 PM EST
Ahhh judge not, less ye be judged my friend. It's not up to you to decide who's going to heaven and not.

You sure make Christianity sound like an unattractive religion, what with the "I'm better than you" attitude and all.

And now if you'll excuse me, I have a church meeting. Then I'm going out for a coffee with a Muslim friend and "brother" of mine.

God bless.
by Birdman04 January 20, 2011 5:42 PM EST
I have agreed to accept his apolgy for now under the condition that if he starts collecting blood or body parts as religious relics, all bets are off.

I am curious why a man with so much conviction would apologize if he thought he was right? Like most one should think first and then speak not the other way around. Just an observation.
See all 7 Replies
by Myopinion046 January 20, 2011 4:52 PM EST
That Governor apologized, but the media is still going after him. Huh?????
Reply to this comment
by mickey232310 January 21, 2011 4:12 PM EST
"Going after him." You mean reporting how the govenor himself inserted his foot in his own mouth? Yes, I guess you could call that "going after him"...
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