An atheist group has complained about Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson’s practice of promoting Christianity on his agency’s official Facebook page and has asked him to stop posting Bible verses online.
On Easter Sunday, Bradley Country Sheriff Eric Watson posted on his office’s official Facebook page a message quoting Bible verses and showing a cross bearing the words “He Is Risen.” The online post prompted the American Atheists Legal Center (AALC) to send him a complaint letter asking him to stop promoting Christianity on the page as the sheriff, according to WRCB-TV.
Aside from that, the AALC cited other Christian references in the official page of the Bradley Country Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), including a Christmas greeting. In the letter sent to Watson on Mar. 27, the atheist group said BCSO should remember that there are other non-religious individuals in their community who should deserve equal respect as Christians. …show more content…
He added that he has been a Christian even before he became the sheriff, and will remain that way even after his term. However, he also said he respects other people’s personal beliefs, Cleveland Banner reports.
In response to AALC’s request to treat everyone with equal respect, Watson said his Christian beliefs do not interfere with his job. He assured that his department treats everyone in the community equally.
“We love all people here in Bradley County. We love the non-believers as well as the believers, and they're all treated the same,” said Watson. “When you call 911, you're not asked, are you a believer or not a believer? We respond in the same way to all people.”
Moreover, Watson explained that the Facebook posts on the official page of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office are not funded by the taxpayer’s money. He said the social media posts do not have
On Easter Sunday, Bradley Country Sheriff Eric Watson posted on his office’s official Facebook page a message quoting Bible verses and showing a cross bearing the words “He Is Risen.” The online post prompted the American Atheists Legal Center (AALC) to send him a complaint letter asking him to stop promoting Christianity on the page as the sheriff, according to WRCB-TV.
Aside from that, the AALC cited other Christian references in the official page of the Bradley Country Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), including a Christmas greeting. In the letter sent to Watson on Mar. 27, the atheist group said BCSO should remember that there are other non-religious individuals in their community who should deserve equal respect as Christians. …show more content…
He added that he has been a Christian even before he became the sheriff, and will remain that way even after his term. However, he also said he respects other people’s personal beliefs, Cleveland Banner reports.
In response to AALC’s request to treat everyone with equal respect, Watson said his Christian beliefs do not interfere with his job. He assured that his department treats everyone in the community equally.
“We love all people here in Bradley County. We love the non-believers as well as the believers, and they're all treated the same,” said Watson. “When you call 911, you're not asked, are you a believer or not a believer? We respond in the same way to all people.”
Moreover, Watson explained that the Facebook posts on the official page of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office are not funded by the taxpayer’s money. He said the social media posts do not have