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<H2 id=article-title class=entry-title><FONT size=6>Alabama Gov: Non-Christians
'Not My Brother'</FONT></H2>
<P class="author vcard"><SPAN class=fn></SPAN></P>
<P class="published updated dtstamp">Published January 19, 2011<SPAN
class=value-title title=2010-05-1T11:02Z></SPAN></P>
<P class="source-org vcard"><SPAN class="org fn">Associated Press via Fox
News</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=dateline><FONT size=2><STRONG>BIRMINGHAM, Ala.</STRONG> –
</FONT></SPAN><A class=r_lapi
href="http://www.foxnews.com/topics/entertainment/music/country/alabama.htm#r_src=ramp"><FONT
size=2>Alabama</FONT></A><FONT size=2> 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 Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday
called Bentley's remarks shocking.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>After his speech, Bentley said he did
not mean to insult anyone.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>Responding to questions about it,
Bentley's office released a statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the
governor of all of Alabama."</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>Ashfaq Taufique, president of the
Birmingham Islamic Society, told The Birmingham News he wasn't sure how
Bentley's remarks were intended.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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. 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."</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"><FONT size=2>"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.</FONT></P><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>