FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2011

The Secular Coalition for Alabama Urges Governor Robert Bentley Not to Give Up

Secular Alabamians Not Ready to Throw in the Towel Just Yet

Huntsville, AL - The Secular Coalition for Alabama urges Governor Robert Bentley to reject Governor Perry’s call to prayer.  Declaring that “some problems are beyond our power to solve,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is asking his 49 fellow governors to join him at an evangelical Christian prayer meeting in Houston to “call upon Jesus to guide us” and ask for “God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision.”

“We respectfully disagree” said Charles Miller, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for Alabama who went on to say   “Governor Perry appears to be giving up on Americans.  We know that our fellow citizens are, by and large, ready to work and make sacrifices to solve our problems but they want to see real leadership from our elected officials.  Instead, by calling for prayers to Jesus Christ Governor Perry insults all non-Christians and causes division that creates more problems for our nation.”

The statement of faith for the event, taken from the American Family Association, says, in part, “We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential” and that non-Christians “are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.”  Mr. Miller responded, “The American Family Association insults all who disagree with their religious position with their narrow judgment.  We do not agree, and call on all people of good will to use reason and critical thinking to implement real world solutions.”

It’s the Coalition’s intention to remind Governor Bentley that he pledged to be the ‘Governor of all of Alabama’ and that to do that he should reject Governor Perry’s invitation and instead encourage everyone in our state to come together and work to solve our problems.  In a letter to Governor Bentley the Coalition wrote, “Regardless of the beliefs of the American Family Association, which they are entitled to, we respectfully disagree with their conclusion.  Our nation was founded on laws laid down by men of a wide spectrum of beliefs.  We know that we can continue to accomplish great things if we work and sacrifice as they did. That can best be accomplished if we all work together.

As people who trust the better motives and goodness of most of our fellow citizens we are not ready to throw up or hands and give up.  Neither should you or any of our elected officials.”

Contact: 
Steven Moore
Communications Director
Secular Coalition for Alabama
smoore@secularal.org