Malaysian state ruler commutes caning sentence for beer-drinking Muslim woman

Malaysian ruler commutes caning sentence for woman

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Muslim woman sentenced to be caned for drinking beer has had her punishment commuted, in a surprising turnaround for a high-profile case that raised questions about Islamic laws intruding into personal matters in Malaysia.
Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a mother of two, received a letter …. Original article  : Malaysian state ruler commutes caning sentence for beer-drinking Muslim woman.

Number of atheists, non-believers increases in Spain

Madrid, April 1 (IANS/EFE) The number of non-believers and atheists has grown significantly in Spain during the last decade while the percentage of Catholics has come down by 10 percent, a government survey has said.

At present, 13.6 percent of the people said they were “non-believers” while 7.7 percent identified themselves as atheists, a survey released [..] Read the original article: here.

Malaysian state ruler commutes caning sentence on beer-drinking Muslim woman

Malaysian ruler commutes caning sentence on woman

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Muslim woman sentenced to be caned for drinking beer has had her punishment commuted, in a surprising turnaround for a high-profile case that raised questions about Islamic laws intruding into personal matters in Malaysia.
Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a mother of two, received a letter …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysian state ruler commutes caning sentence on beer-drinking Muslim woman.

What boycott? Hispanic immigrants more likely to fill out census than US-born counterparts

Poll: Close to 9 in 10 Latinos to fill out census

WASHINGTON – What boycott? Close to 9 in 10 Hispanics say they intend to participate in the 2010 census, with immigrants more likely to say the government count is good for their community and that personal information will be kept confidential, according to a new [..] Read the original article: here.

Iraqi kingmaker declines to back either frontrunner, leaves decision to supporters

Al-Sadr asks backers for input on future Iraq PM

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s political disarray deepened Wednesday when a potential kingmaker withheld his support from both big election winners and said he would ask his supporters to make the choice in a referendum.
Compounding the confusion, the incumbent prime minister refused to abandon his claim of fraud and …. Source  : Iraqi kingmaker declines to back either frontrunner, leaves decision to supporters.

Unsealed letter from 1963 shows former Pope Paul VI knew of US priest abuse problems

1963 letter shows former pope knew of abuse

LOS ANGELES – A newly released letter to then-Pope Paul VI indicates the Vatican was aware of clergy abuse in the U.S. nearly five decades ago.
In the 1963 letter released Wednesday, the head of a Roman Catholic order that oversaw treatment of pedophile priests tells the pope he …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Unsealed letter from 1963 shows former Pope Paul VI knew of US priest abuse problems.

Al-Sadr call for referendum further scrambles political jockeying for new government

Maneuvering in Iraq intensifies over who to lead

BAGHDAD – Political maneuvering in Iraq intensified on Wednesday with a powerful anti-American cleric calling for his supporters to vote on whom he should back, while the incumbent prime minister defended his challenges of the results.
The call by Muqtada al-Sadr further muddies the waters in what has already …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Al-Sadr call for referendum further scrambles political jockeying for new government.

Catholic bishops urge British to study marriage policies before voting in UK’s next election

Catholic bishops intervene in British election

LONDON – Senior Catholic bishops are urging British worshippers to carefully consider candidates’ policies toward marriage and abortion when they vote in the looming national election – a move likely to benefit the opposition Conservatives.
In a guide to the election, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols urges voters to back lawmakers … Read : Catholic bishops urge British to study marriage policies before voting in UK’s next election.

China agrees to let in more Mansarovar pilgrims

NEW DELHI – China has agreed to accommodate more Indian pilgrims for the four-month-long Kailash Mansarovar ‘yatra’ (travel), External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Wednesday.

Krishna presided over the draw of lots for selecting the people for the pilgrimage that is scheduled to begin June 1.
This year 960 names were selected on the basis …. Read the original article  : China agrees to let in more Mansarovar pilgrims.

South Florida law firm implicates Vatican, Pope in priest child abuse case

Law firm implicates Vatican, Pope in abuse case

MIAMI – A South Florida law firm is implicating the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI in its handling of a priest accused of sexually abusing children.
Jessica Arbour, an attorney representing one of the alleged victims, says documents show the Vatican was aware of Rev. Ernesto Garcia-Rubio’s misconduct as …. Read the original article  : here.

Women refusing to remove niqab in Canada will be charged

TORONTO – After the landmark niqab ban in French-speaking Quebec province last week, Canadian police now say they will charge anyone refusing to remove face-coverings, including niqab, when being booked after arrest.

Under Canadian laws, police always take mug shots of the offenders after their arrest.
Though no Muslim woman with a niqab has been arrested … Read more : Women refusing to remove niqab in Canada will be charged.