Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ® will not comply with an atheist group's request that he remove a Bible verse from his official Facebook and Twitter accounts, his spokeswoman told TheBlaze.
Getty Images
"Governor Walker will not remove the post on his social media," Walker spokeswoman press secretary Laurel Patrick said in an email. "The verse was part of a devotional he read that morning, which inspired him, and he chose to share it."
Patrick said Walker's social media accounts are frequently used "to engage with Wisconsinites on matters of public policy" as well as to give constituents "a sense of who he is."
She said the scripture reference he posted on March 16 was simply "a reflection of his thoughts for the day."
Walker's response came after the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote him a letter this week asking that he delete the message, which read simply, “Philippians 4:13,” from his official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The popular New Testament Bible verse reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/GovWalker/status/445244966495727616"]
Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president Dan Barker told TheBlaze Friday that while he finds the posting of the Bible verse both "rude" and "arrogant," his group likely won't sue over it.
"We're still complaining about it, but we can't do anything more than complain," Barker said. "We think it's inappropriate for him to use his official page to promote his view."
Image source: Gov. Scott Walker/Facebook
Barker said that the Freedom From Religion Foundation might take definitive action if Walker decided to post Bible messages on a more regular basis, but that in this case they will likely "look the other way."
"We're not going to take any legal action on one abuse," he said. "And it is an abuse -- and he should know it's one."
