India’s Catholic church prepares to prevent scandals

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Catholic leaders in India are drawing up procedures to prevent scandals and tackle them if they happen, though the country has been spared the child abuse controversies rocking the church in Western countries, Christian leaders say.

“The church is strictly a moralistic organisation, but the sad fact is that aberrations do happen. And this …. Original source  : India’s Catholic church prepares to prevent scandals.

Postelection court order disqualifies Iraqi candidates, risks longer delays for new government

Iraqi court bans candidates in election disarray

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi court threw the nation’s disputed election into deeper disarray Monday by disqualifying 52 candidates, including one winner, in a legal ruling that cast doubt on the slim lead of a Sunni-backed alliance over the prime minister’s political coalition.
The decision by the three-judge election court intensified … Read : Postelection court order disqualifies Iraqi candidates, risks longer delays for new government.

Iran’s opposition leader says corrupt dictatorship is ruling country in the name of Islam

Iran’s opposition leader assails ruling clerics

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s opposition leader says “corrupt despotic rulers” are running the country in the name of Islam.
The comment by Mir Hossein Mousavi is his strongest to date against Iran’s hard-line clerical leadership, although he has often criticized the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mousavi also says his Green Movement …. Read the original article  : here.

Leaked memo will not affect Pope’s Britain visit: Vatican

Vatican City, April 26 (IANS/AKI) The Vatican has said there will be no changes to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain in September despite an embarrassing memo that has apparently mocked the pontiff.

Britain’s Foreign Office apologised to the Pope over the memo published in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, which said the Pope could bless …. Source article  : Leaked memo will not affect Pope’s Britain visit: Vatican.

Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi in Malaysia

GEORGE TOWN – Thousands of Sikhs were joined by tourists at the annual Vasakhi Fest held in Malaysia’s Penang state to mark Vaisakhi, the harvesting festival.

The Saturday night event was organised by the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (Penang branch). It included Sikh folk dances like the bhangra and giddha, The Star said Monday.
There was … Read : Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi in Malaysia.