Almost exactly six years ago, inspired by "The Daily Show," I started a weekly feature called "This Week in God," covering news related to religion, politics, and government. Today, the feature moves to Friday afternoons.
The God Machine has plenty to offer this week (one might say the cup runneth over). First up, while the National Prayer Breakfast is supposed to be non-partisan, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) wasn't bashful about his decision to walk out of the event yesterday in protest of President Obama. A spokesperson for the Republican lawmaker said Gingrey "enjoyed listening to the keynote speaker and found the breakfast to be inspiring until President Obama began politicking."
For the record, the president wasn't politicking, so much as reflecting on the ways in which his faith influences his priorities in office.
Also from the God Machine:
* Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is running far to the right on immigration policy, but his approach is clearly at odds with the position taken by the former governor's church.
* In Rhode Island, a 16-year-old atheist named Jessica Ahlquist is facing intense community pressure -- and even personal threats -- after moving to remove a prayer on the wall of her high school auditorium.
* In Alabama, a Republican state House member, Shadrack McGill, argued this week that keeping salaries low for public school teachers is a "Biblical principle." He did not appear to be kidding.
* And 2012 has apparently been designated the "Year of the Bible" in the state of Pennsylvania.