In answer to the question:

Who is my neighbor? Gov. Bentley says: only my fellow Baptists:

"If anyone from other religions felt disenfranchised by the language, I want to say I am sorry. I am sorry if I offended anyone in any way," Bentley said Wednesday.

Bentley, who spoke at the church during a King holiday event after his official inaugural address, said no one should hate anyone else because of color or religion.

Speaking with reporters after meeting with several members of Alabama's Jewish community and other faith leaders at his Capitol office, Bentley said he will be a governor for everyone, not just Christians.

So, we're left with this: either Gov. Bentley meant what he said, but didn't mean by it that his words actually meant anything. "Brothers and sisters," in other words, is an empty phrase devoid of any real application. Or, Gov. Bentley meant what he said, and only those Christians who share his particular confession are worthy of his attention and compassion and even interest, as Governor or as a human being.

Or Gov. Bentley didn't mean any of it, and even his confessions of faith are hollow and meaningless. Or, finally, he meant it, but he's sorry the rest of us heard it. And, in fact, that last one may be the correct explanation, according to no less an authority than Gov. Bentley:

He said he was speaking as an evangelical Christian to fellow Baptists.

The rest of us really shouldn't have been listening.