Thousands Gather for National Prayer Breakfast

CBNNews.com, WASHINGTON -- White House officials, lawmakers from Capitol Hill, and leaders of countries from around the world were among the thousands of guests in Washington Thursday for the National Prayer Breakfast.

It is a tradition that dates all the way back to the days of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

A prayer breakfast where faith and politics purposefully intersect.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, which hosts the annual event. She says its purpose is clear.

"The whole focus of this event is Jesus Christ, and we share our faith around the table and usually it's with people from all around the world," Bachmann said.

Ky. Courthouse Removes Ten Commandments

CBNNews - The Ten Commandments have been removed from the Jackson County Courthouse in Lexington, Ky., in effort to resolve a Federal lawsuit.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the courthouse three weeks ago to have the plaques removed, claiming the displays were a government endorsement of religion.

Nine framed copies of the Ten Commandments were taken off display along with a 3 by 5-foot copy that hung behind the judge's bench.
   
Judge-Executive William O. Smith said he and other members of the local Christian community did not want to put taxpayers in jeopardy of losing a costly court case.

"Personally, no, I was not in favor of removing them," Smith told Ledger-Enquirer.com.

Atheists File Lawsuit Over 'God' Engravings

CBNNews.com - An atheist group is attempting to keep the phrase "In God We Trust" from being engraved at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.

The House and Senate passed resolutions earlier this month to allow that phrase and the Pledge of Allegiance to be engraved at the entrance of the visitor center.

The resolution came in response to critics who complained Congress spent $621 million on the new three-story underground center without paying respect to the nation's religious heritage.

The center opened in December after seven years of construction.
    
The engravings of the phrases were considered a way to respect the nation's religious heritage.