Hot lines in Europe log massive jump in calls alleging abuse by Catholic priests

European abuse hot lines log jump in calls

VIENNA – Telephone hot lines in Europe offering help to people claiming abuse by Roman Catholic priests are being deluged with calls as the crisis spreads – with one center reporting complaints jumping from about 10 cases a year to more than a thousand in the past few …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Akal Takht ex-jathedar sticks to stand on scripture

TORONTO – Toronto-based former Akal Takht head priest Darshan Singh Ragi, who was excommunicated by the Sikh high priests in December for questioning the authenticity of the scripture Dasam Granth, says his voice cannot be silenced.

Because of his excommunication over the Dasam Granth, he was not allowed to speak at a Toronto-area gurdwara and his …. Source  : Akal Takht ex-jathedar sticks to stand on scripture.

Vatican secretary of state says homosexuality to blame for pedophilia, not celibacy

Pope’s No. 2: Pedophilia linked to homosexuality

SANTIAGO, Chile – The Vatican’s second-highest authority says the sex scandals haunting the Catholic Church are linked to homosexuality rather than celibacy vows among priests.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is the Vatican’s secretary of state and asserts that “many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy … Read more »»».

Female mosque leader offers new European brand of Islam, targeting intolerance

Woman mosque leader seeks new Muslim in Europe

AMSTERDAM – Yassmine el Ksaihi doesn’t see herself as a feminist rebel. She covers her head and wears modest clothing. She learned to read the Quran at age 5 and promotes traditional Muslim values.
Yet there is something pioneering about her nonetheless: At age 24 she is the administrator … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Female mosque leader offers new European brand of Islam, targeting intolerance.

Vatican paper praises the Beatles, forgives Lennon’s comment that band was bigger than Jesus

Vatican makes peace with the Beatles
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has finally made peace with the Beatles, saying their drug use, “dissolute” lives and even the claim that the band was bigger than Jesus are all in the past – while their music lives on.

Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano paid tribute to the Fab Four in … Read more : Vatican paper praises the Beatles, forgives Lennon’s comment that band was bigger than Jesus.

Dalai Lama expresses grief over death of Polish president

DHARAMSALA – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has expressed sorrow over the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in an air crash in Russia last week. Kaczynski was an admirer of the Dalai Lama and had met him a number of times.

“In a letter to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk April 10, His Holiness …. Read the original article  : Dalai Lama expresses grief over death of Polish president.

Kirpans out as Canadian Sikh divisions deepen over scripture

TORONTO – Divisions among Canadian Sikhs over the ongoing controversy about the Dasam Granth reached a flash point with hardliners using kirpans to attack supporters of former Akal Takht head priest Darshan Singh Ragi who suspects the authenticity of the scripture.

After the holy Granth which carries the writings of the first nine Sikhs, the Dasam … Read more : Kirpans out as Canadian Sikh divisions deepen over scripture.

Over 1,000 Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Lahore

LAHORE – More than 1,000 Sikh pilgrims have arrived here from India to take part in the Baisakhi festival starting Wednesday, a media report said.

The Online news agency said about 1,000 pilgrims have already arrived here aboard the Samjhota Express through the Wagha border and another train is due to arrive with 1,000 more Sikh … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Over 1,000 Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Lahore.

Hindu ethos key to Indian democracy, secularism: Advani

NEW DELHI – Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday said Hindu ethos was responsible for the success of democracy and secularism in India.

“In human history, intolerance towards a different point of view has been reflected most in the field of religion,” Advani said in the latest post ‘Roots of Democracy … Read more : Hindu ethos key to Indian democracy, secularism: Advani.

‘Fatwa’ against Sania, Shoaib for living together before marriage

HYDERABAD – Tennis star Sania Mirza’s marriage with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has sparked another row with some religious scholars issuing a ‘fatwa’ or religious edict against their living and mingling freely even before the marriage is solemnised.

Sunni Ulema Board, a group of religious scholars, said both the sportspersons were bringing disrepute to Islam and … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Fatwa’ against Sania, Shoaib for living together before marriage.

Good if government quashes Haj subsidy, say leading Muslims

NEW DELHI – If the government wants to do away with the subsidy for Haj pilgrims it is fine, some leading Muslims feel, but they want transparency and privatisation of the pilgrimage programme.

“There is no demand for the subsidy. The Haj becomes necessary only if you can afford it – physically as well as financially. …. Read the original article  : Good if government quashes Haj subsidy, say leading Muslims.

5,000 Sikh pilgrims to reach Pakistan Sunday

LAHORE – Five thousand Sikh pilgrims are due to arrive at the Wagah border by the Samjhauta Express Sunday to visit their sacred shrines in Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi.

The arriving pilgrims would be received by chairman of the Gurdwara committee, Sham Singh, and other senior officials of the Board of Evacuee Trust, Online … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 5,000 Sikh pilgrims to reach Pakistan Sunday.

Indian community mourns death of Polish president

WARSAW – The Indian community in Poland Saturday mourned the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in an air crash and said they had lost a \”steadfast friend\”.

\”It is a terrible loss for us Indians as President Kaczynski has been a steadfast friend of India. We feel a personal loss in his untimely death,\” said …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sathya Sai Baba to visit Shimla next week

SHIMLA – Renowned spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi will visit the hill station next week Monday to deliver sermons to his disciples.

“Sri Sathya Sai Baba is reaching Shimla April 12 from Delhi. He will stay in a five-storied temple at Pujarali for a few days to deliver address and bless his devotees,” … Original article on : Sathya Sai Baba to visit Shimla next week.

AMU alumni set up health camp for Kumbh mela pilgrims

NEW DELHI – Alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will set up a health camp April 12-14 for the pilgrims attending the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, a statement by the group said Friday.

Sir Syed Forum, as the group is called, set up a similar health camp March 15-16 to provide medical facilities to the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : AMU alumni set up health camp for Kumbh mela pilgrims.

Court to hear plea on allowing worship at Ayodhya

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Friday agreed to hear a plea for easing restrictions imposed by the authorities on worshiping at the make-shift Ram temple built at the demolished Babri mosque site in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya town.

“We will consider your plea,” a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma assured former … Original article on : Court to hear plea on allowing worship at Ayodhya.

Bill moved to manage gold donated in Himachal temples

SHIMLA – The Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2010, was brought in the state assembly Friday to better manage the yellow metal donated by devotees.

Intoducing the bill, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said: “Suitable provisions should be made in the act for melting and disposal of gold and silver …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mullahs frown at Sania-Shoaib pre-marriage ‘proximity’

LUCKNOW – Indian tennis star Sania Mirza’s “physical proximity” with her fianc Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has come in for strong disapproval from the Islamic clergy.

The Lucknow-based Darul-Uloom Nadwatul-Ulama and the Deoband-based School of Islamic Studies have said that Sania and Shoaib’s proximity before marriage went against the tenets of Islam.
“Physical proximity between a … Original article on : Mullahs frown at Sania-Shoaib pre-marriage ‘proximity’.