This Week in God - Candidate Claims Endorsement From Jesus Christ + More

[John Manning]

First up from the God Machine this week is a story
out of South Florida, in which a mayoral candidate claimed
an unusual political endorsement, which did not turn out
especially well.

I've reported on developments at the intersection of religion
and politics for a good chunk of my career, but I don't recall
ever seeing a politician claim to have been literally endorsed by
Jesus Christ.

That is, before Anna Pierre, a registered nurse, made the claim in
advance of this week's North Miami mayoral race.

"Yes, Jesus endorsed me!" Pierre said during a stop at the Gwen
Margolis Community Center Tuesday morning as the polls opened. "I'm
not nuts, if I'm a freak and nuts for Jesus, let it be! Let the
world know that Jesus is it and when you have Jesus on your side
you can go on."

Pierre previously claimed she was being intimidated with voodoo
tactics.

The Jesus claim was made on a campaign flyer posted to Pierre's
Facebook page that reads "Anna Pierre, RN, is endorsed by Jesus
Christ" and features a photo of the savior.

Pierre said the endorsement came to her in a revelation while on
the campaign trail as she's been competing against six other
candidates.

For some reason, local voters were not persuaded -- Pierre
came in seventh out of seven candidates, getting slightly less
than one percent of the vote.


Also from the God Machine this week:

* The AP reported this week that a prominent American priest
of the Legion of Christ religious order has decided to leave
the priesthood after admitting he fathered a child years ago.

The Rev. Thomas Williams, who had worked as an MSNBC religion
analyst, is now eager to care for his son and the mother.


* Remember Harold Camping, who gained notoriety a couple of
years ago after predicting the end of the world? His California
-based Family Radio ministry has apparently fallen on hard times
and begun selling off assets while laying off staffers.


* The town of Muldrow, Okla., is in "turmoil" after
the Freedom From Religion Foundation reminded the local
public high school that it cannot promote and endorse the
Ten Commandments.

Many locals have organized large protests, but attorneys
representing the school have said the religious displays will
have to be removed.


* In Georgia this week, Gov. Nathan Deal (R) ordered
the state Department of Natural Resources to put Bibles
in cabins and lodge rooms at state parks.

In a statement, Deal said, "These Bibles are donated by outside
groups, not paid for by the state," adding that "any group is free
to donate literature" for park cabins and lodges.

I'll look forward to seeing which other groups take the governor up on
the offer. (Muslims, Pagans, Hindus etc too?)


* And in Bangladesh, bloggers criticizing the abuse of religion
by politicians have been labeled "atheists," and are now facing
arrest and death threats.

~~ Link to each story here:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/18/18339932-this-week-in-god