i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. religious leaders were among those who met with vice president joe biden this week in a series of white house meetings on gun control. according to one clergy member present at the meeting, they spoke of the moral requirement to reduce gun violence. in december, a week after the elementary school shooting in connecticut, a large interfaith group called on lawmakers to improve mental health services and strengthen gun laws. >> our worship of guns is a form of idolatry, the random distribution of guns, an offense against god and the only appropriate response is sustained moral outrage. >>> jewish groups were divided over president obama's pick of former republican senator chuck hagel for secretary of defense. in the past, hagel was heavily criticized for comments he made about a "jewish lobby" in washington and for positions he took on iran. several jewish groups that had previously expressed reservations about hagel said they would not oppose him. but, th

i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. president obama began his second term this week with pomp, circumstance, and some prayer. in longstanding american tradition, religion had a high profile in many inaugural activities. kim lawton has more. >> reporter: before monday's public swearing-in ceremony, the obamas attended a special worship service at st. john's episcopal church. protestant, catholic and jewish leaders were part of the service, which was closed to cameras. then, the public ceremony began with an invocation by myrlie evers-williams, widow of slain civil rights leader medgar evers and the first laywoman to give an inaugural prayer. >> we invoke the prayers of our grandmothers, who taught us to pray, god, make me a blessing. >> reporter: music included the brooklyn tabernacle choir. >> the oath i have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this capitol, was an oath to god and country. >> reporter: the president cited god many times in his address. he la

i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us. arguments continue over the so-called "fiscal cliff" deal approved this week in the fina minutes of the 112th congress. and religious groups are among those weighing in. the family research council criticized the deal for not including spending cuts and entitlement reforms. meanwhile, leaders of the christian group bread for the world said while the measure isn't perfect, they believe it will "prevent major economic damage that would have affected hungry and poor people the most." >>> the new 113th congress, which was sworn in thursday, includes seval religious firsts. democrat tulsi gabbard of hawaii is the first hindu member of congress. mazie hirono also of hawaii, is the first buddhist senator, although she describes herself as non-practicing. and kyrsten sinema, a democratic representative from arizona, is the first member of congress to publicly describe her religion as "none." joining me with more on the new congress is our managing editor kim law

welcome, i'm bob abernethy. it's good to have you with us.inal preparations are underway in washington, d.c., for the second inauguration of barack obama, taking place on monday, martin luther king, jr. day. the benediction will now be given by the reverend luis leon of st. john's episcopal church, where the obamas sometimes attend services. leon replaces evangelical pastor louie giglio, who bowed out after controversy erupted over a sermon he gave in the 1990s condemning homosexuality. myrlie evers-williams, widow of murdered civil rights leader medgar evers, wildeliver te iocation anthe brooklyn tabernacle choir will sing. >>> this week, many religious groups praised president obama's newly announced measures to try to reduce gun violence, particularly his call for mandatory background checks and a ban on assault weapons. vice-president biden said the nation has a "moral obligation" to prevent future tragedies like the school shooting in connecticut. at a press conference in washington, members of an interfaith coalition reiterated support

i'm bob abernethy.ou can follow us on twitter and facebook and watch us anytime on the pbs app for iphones and ipads. there's always much more on our website. you can comment on all our stories and share them. audio and video podcasts are also available. join us at pbs.org. as we leave you, the brooklyn tabernacle choir as it performed "the battle hymn of the republic" at president obama's second inauguration. ♪ his truth is marching on his truth is marching on ♪ >>> major funding for "religion & ethics news weekly" is provided byhe lily endownt, dedicated to its founders at tristan religion, community development, and education. additional funding also provided by mutual of america, designing customized, individual, and group retirement products. that's why we're your retirement company. and the corporation for public broadcasting.