That is exactly what towing the party line is. Zell Miller was in favor of the Iraq liberation which is exactly what conservatives say all the time.
Putting faith in politics is the defacto party line at this moment. Noonan doesn't go along with that and since she isn't towing that line she must be "off in the head."
Her biggest error is that her column's title doesn't really go along with the body of the column. In her column, she criticizes the unrealistic goals laid forth in the speech. Beyond the headline, there was only one very short paragraph that even mentioned God in her column.
Yes...in using this title she shows she wanted to call attention to the God issue. I'm not sure it's a "mistake" as you put it. Rather, she doesn't like the the 2-3 references to God...and that's clear in the title...that's her opinion.
I don't agree with other points in her article as well but have chosen to remark on the God issue which so blatantly stands out for me.
I have not "towed the party line" about Noonan in the past. Never liked her emotionalism.
The fight against godless communism was the party's fight during the entire Cold War, if you will remember. It is not brand new.
Rooting out vestiges of that philosophy which dominated the US thru liberalism will involve many discussions of faith. This will go on for some time until institutions are restored. That is just logic.