A few weeks ago we commented on the shaky times that have befallen the historically solid relationship between the labor movement and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).
It seems unionists are not the only traditional constituency of supporters the governing party finds itself on the rocks with at the moment, with both Prime Minister Perry Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis responding sharply to church leaders who criticized the government's move to regulate web shops in defiance of the will of the public, as expressed in last year's national referendum.
Christie blasted church leaders who suggested the Gaming Bill represented playback for campaign contributions.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, he said: "I appreciate them. I respect them for what they believe in. But I have to use an old biblical admonition - the devil is a liar - Mr. Speaker, if they are going to question my personal integrity when it comes to this."
Christie's deputy refused to apologize to church leaders after suggesting some of them are themselves guilty of collecting the proceeds of web shop gambling.
Davis made the charge in response to certain pastors claiming the Gaming Bill signals the "death of democracy" in The Bahamas.
The deputy prime minister said when he heard Bahamas Christian Council members berate the government for ignoring public opinion and forging ahead with the bill, he wondered how many pastors "have accounts or accept benefits" from numbers bosses.
"I know their concern chiefly centers on the degradation of society, but how many of them... are secretly concerned about what will not make it into their collection plates?" he asked.
Last week, the Grace Community Church leader, Pastor Lyall Bethel, warned Davis that he should "do himself a big favor and say he misspoke" and "beg for forgiveness".
Refusing to apologize, Davis said he already goes through his "act of penance" in church every Sunday, in the form of confession, and is forgiven.
He added that Bethel misunderstood him and that he did not attack the church, but suggested the Gaming Bill is not a matter for religious leaders to concern themselves with.
"It was not for me to attack the church, but just render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar's. Render the things unto God that are God's," Davis said.
Both Christie and Davis would do well to remember that, just as with their recent fallout with union bosses, the PLP drew the ire of church leaders in the first place because of the party's failure to live up to its own promises - in this case, the prime minister's pledge that he would abide by the results of the gaming referendum.
Like the labor movement, the quarrel with church leaders threatens to undermine a cornerstone of traditional support, which the party has relied on at the polls for decades. For their supporters' sake, Christie and Davis had better have a plan B for election 2017.
As we said in the former case, there is nothing so wrathful as a faithful partner betrayed.

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