xtist bares his fangs: the downside of the looney right in the us.
bobby jindal surely thinks this, but is too clever to actually say it.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: sri
New governor: Non-Christians 'not my brother,' 'not my sister'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41149562/ns/politics-more_politics
Anti-Defamation League says remarks 'raise serious questions as to
whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment'
By JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
updated 1/19/2011
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd
just moments into his new administration that those who have not
accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters,
shocking some critics who questioned whether he can be fair to
non-Christians.
"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," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day,
according to The Birmingham News.
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.
"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," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional
director.
Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official
inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone
who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of
color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same
relationship to him.
Gov. Robert Bentley's entire inaugural address Governor Bentley ends
gambling task force Bentley keeps 158-year-old Alabama tradition alive
Southern Baptist leader nixes yoga for Christians "If the Holy Spirit
lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has
not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too,"
Bentley said.
After his speech, Bentley said he did not mean to insult anyone.
Responding to questions about it, Bentley's office released a
statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the governor of all of
Alabama."
"The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all
Alabamians — Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black
and white, rich and poor. As stated in his (inaugural) address, Gov.
Bentley believes his job is to make everyone's lives better," the
statement said.
Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told The
Birmingham News he wasn't sure how Bentley's remarks were intended.
"Does it mean that those who according to him are not saved are less
important than those who are saved?" Taufique said.
"Does he want those of us who do not belong to the Christian faith to
adopt his faith? That should be toned down," he added. "That's not
what we need. If he means that, I hope he changes it. We don't want
evangelical politicians. They can be whatever in their private life."
The official with the Anti-Defamation League, which fights
discrimination against Jewish people, said it sounded like Bentley was
using the office of governor to advocate 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," Nigut said.
From: sri
New governor: Non-Christians 'not my brother,' 'not my sister'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41149562/ns/politics-more_politics
Anti-Defamation League says remarks 'raise serious questions as to
whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment'
By JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
updated 1/19/2011
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd
just moments into his new administration that those who have not
accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters,
shocking some critics who questioned whether he can be fair to
non-Christians.
"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," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day,
according to The Birmingham News.
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.
"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," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional
director.
Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official
inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone
who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of
color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same
relationship to him.
Gov. Robert Bentley's entire inaugural address Governor Bentley ends
gambling task force Bentley keeps 158-year-old Alabama tradition alive
Southern Baptist leader nixes yoga for Christians "If the Holy Spirit
lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has
not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too,"
Bentley said.
After his speech, Bentley said he did not mean to insult anyone.
Responding to questions about it, Bentley's office released a
statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the governor of all of
Alabama."
"The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all
Alabamians — Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black
and white, rich and poor. As stated in his (inaugural) address, Gov.
Bentley believes his job is to make everyone's lives better," the
statement said.
Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told The
Birmingham News he wasn't sure how Bentley's remarks were intended.
"Does it mean that those who according to him are not saved are less
important than those who are saved?" Taufique said.
"Does he want those of us who do not belong to the Christian faith to
adopt his faith? That should be toned down," he added. "That's not
what we need. If he means that, I hope he changes it. We don't want
evangelical politicians. They can be whatever in their private life."
The official with the Anti-Defamation League, which fights
discrimination against Jewish people, said it sounded like Bentley was
using the office of governor to advocate 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," Nigut said.
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