Advani condoles demise of Jain sage

JAIPUR – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday condoled the demise of Acharya Sree Mahapragya, the 10th acharya of the Jain Swetambar Terapanth Samaj.

The 90-year-old sage died Sunday at Sardarshehar in Rajasthan’s Churu district after a cardiac arrest.
“The news of the sudden demise of Acharya Mahapragya has come as a shock to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Advani condoles demise of Jain sage.

VHP meet to restart Ram Mandir movement

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW – The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has convened a meeting of its central managing committee July 12 in Ayodhya to restart the Ram Mandir movement.

The outcome of the meeting will “decide the future course of action to pave the way to build a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram. Almost 60 per …. Original article  : VHP meet to restart Ram Mandir movement.

Police fire tear gas at protesters as Lithuania’s first gay pride parade takes place

Lithuania’s first gay pride march draws protests

VILNIUS, Lithuania – Opponents of Lithuania’s first gay pride parade threw smoke bombs and tried to break through a barrier Saturday but were stopped by police firing tear gas.
Later, protesters threw rocks and street signs at security forces, and two Lithuanian lawmakers were detained after trying to climb the …. Original source  : Police fire tear gas at protesters as Lithuania’s first gay pride parade takes place.

Pope Benedict appoints a new top church official for Poland

Pope appoints a new top church leader in Poland

WARSAW, Poland – Roman Catholic officials say the pope has appointed Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, the papal nuncio to Poland, as the country’s top church official.
The Vatican and Poland’s church announced Saturday that the 71-year-old Kowalczyk is now the primate of Poland, the leading church position in the … Read : Pope Benedict appoints a new top church official for Poland.

Hrithik loses cool with media on Shirdi visit

NEW DELHI – Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan Saturday lost his temper after being mobbed by the media on a visit to the shrine of Sai Baba in Shirdi town but later said he should have acted with restraint in dealing with the throng of media persons.

Hrithik went with his family to Shirdi to pray at … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Hrithik loses cool with media on Shirdi visit.

Dalai Lama asks Tibetans to cooperate with census officials

DHARAMSALA – The Dalai Lama has appealed to the Tibetan community living in India to cooperate with census officials counting the country’s population, an aide said Saturday.

“The Dalai Lama has issued an appeal to all the Tibetans living in exile (in India) to assist the officials in completing the population census,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hrithik mobbed by media on Shirdi visit

NEW DELHI – Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who went with his family to the holy town of Shirdi Saturday to pray for the success of his forthcoming movie “Kites”, was left disappointed after being mobbed by the media.

“Visited Shirdi this morning, a family tradition before each release since decades. Dad, mom, Su (wife Sussane) and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hrithik mobbed by media on Shirdi visit.

AP Interview: Dalai Lama says Tibetan exile movement must press talks with China government

Dalai Lama tells AP: Exiles must press China talks
DHARMSALA, India – Years of negotiations with Beijing have achieved little for the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama said Friday, though he insisted that talks still needed to press ahead and that the Chinese leadership could – eventually – soften its stand on Tibet.
In an …. Original article  : AP Interview: Dalai Lama says Tibetan exile movement must press talks with China government.

Thousands of Hindus expected at Malaysian temple event

KUALA LUMPUR – More than 20,000 Hindus are expected to attend the consecration ceremony of the 105-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Malaysia.

The temple, located at Puchong in Selangor state, is one of the larger Hindu temples located outside India.
Temple chairman A. Sevaguru said preparations were being undertaken to ensure the temple, reconstructed at … Read more »».

Pope sets out for Portugal hoping to convey message of hope to crisis-hit Europeans

Pope en route to Portugal
LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI has departed for a four-day trip to Portugal, where he plans to speak about Europe’s economic crisis and to urge Europeans to uphold Christian values and seek solace in their faith.

Benedict left from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport shortly after 9 a.m. (0700 GMT; 3 … Read : Pope sets out for Portugal hoping to convey message of hope to crisis-hit Europeans.

Pope to convey message of hope to crisis-hit Europeans on Portugal trip

Pope to convey message of hope in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI arrives Tuesday for a four-day stay in Portugal, with plans to speak about Europe’s economic crisis and to urge Europeans to uphold Christian values and seek solace in their faith.
The pontiff will speak about “the joy of faith and hope” as a …. Source  : Pope to convey message of hope to crisis-hit Europeans on Portugal trip.

Pope to speak about economic gloom in Portugal, convey message of hope to crisis-hit Europeans

Pope to speak about economic crisis in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI will speak about the economic crisis during his four-day trip to Portugal this week, telling Europeans to seek solace in their faith, a senior church official said Monday.
The pontiff intends to deliver a message that “the joy of faith and hope” is … Read more »»».

Vatican: Pope has finished writing his second book on the life of Jesus Christ

Pope finishes second book on Jesus Christ
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has finished writing the second installment on the life of Jesus Christ, though it will be several months before the volume hits bookstores.

A Vatican statement Monday said the work focuses on the passion and resurrection of Jesus.
The first installment, which … Original article on : Vatican: Pope has finished writing his second book on the life of Jesus Christ.

Call for Hindu Nepal at Mumbai meet

KATHMANDU – A three-day religious meet that kicked off in India is seeking fresh action to restore Nepal as a Hindu state.

The international meet on Hinduism that began Sunday in Mumbai is being addressed by the chief of Nepal’s only openly royalist party, Kamal Thapa, and Indian politicians like Bal Thackeray, former chief minister of … Read more : Call for Hindu Nepal at Mumbai meet.

Sikh ‘Fateh March’ enters Punjab

CHANDIGARH – Hundreds of people gathered at the Shambhu barrier on the Punjab-Haryana border as the ‘Fateh (victory) March’, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the victory of Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur in a battle, entered Punjab Wednesday morning.

The march started from Nanded Sahib gurudwara in Maharashtra March 30 and has traversed various states …. Read the original article  : Sikh ‘Fateh March’ enters Punjab.

Kagan’s confirmation would be a first in Supreme Court history: 9 justices, 0 Protestants

Obama pick would mean no Protestants on high court
RALEIGH, N.C. – Nine justices, no Protestants.
If the Senate confirms Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the next Supreme Court justice, the result will be an anomaly in a country that has been dominated by Protestants since the Pilgrims.
Kagan, nominated Monday by President Barack Obama, would … Read more »»».

Hindu Temple Expansion Blocked

LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Hindu Community and Cultural Center of Livermore witnessed heavy arguments from the residents of North Vasco Road who are said to be posing block in the way of the Hindu Temple expansion. Reportedly, the arguments were placed before the Livermore City Council which is looking after the issue.
The expansion …. Source article  : Hindu Temple Expansion Blocked.

Pope blames church’s own sins for sex scandal, not outsiders; calls for profound purification

Pope blames church’s own sins for sex scandal

LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday blamed the church’s own sins for the clerical abuse scandal – not a campaign mounted by outsiders – and called for profound purification to end what he called the “greatest persecution” the church has endured.
His strong comments placed responsibility for …. Read the original article  : Pope blames church’s own sins for sex scandal, not outsiders; calls for profound purification.

Pope calls sex scandal church’s “greatest persecution” but says it’s born from sins inside it

Pope: sex scandal church’s “greatest persecution”

LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI says the clerical abuse scandal represents “the greatest persecution of the church,” but said it was born from sins inside the church, not outside.
He called for profound purification and penance within the church as well as pardon and justice.
In some of his strongest comments …. Source article  : Pope calls sex scandal church’s “greatest persecution” but says it’s born from sins inside it.

Akshaya Tritiya 2010 Brings Marriage Spree

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The residents of Delhi should not expect the roads to be devoid of jams and vehicles on Sunday as the city will witness a massive 20000 weddings on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya 2010. The huge number of marriages are being held on that day as after it …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Akshaya Tritiya 2010 Brings Marriage Spree.

Palin tells anti-abortion group that ‘mama grizzlies’ will lead Republicans

Palin: ‘Mama grizzlies’ will take back US
WASHINGTON – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says “mama grizzlies” will punish Washington in November’s midterm elections.
Palin on Friday told an anti-abortion rights group that women will lead a Republican wave and stop the Democratic agenda. She also criticized President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Palin said female …. Original source  : Palin tells anti-abortion group that ‘mama grizzlies’ will lead Republicans.

No evidence German bishop sexually abused children

AUGSBURG – There is no proof that embattled German Bishop Walter Mixa sexually abused children, a prosecutor said Friday.

However, new evidence has emerged relating to allegations that he physically beat children in his care in the past.
Mixa, 69, who was Bishop of Augsburg, tended his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI last month, after admitting … Read more >>>.

Pope wraps up Portugal trip marked by admission of church guilt, bid to move beyond scandal

Pope’s Portugal trip a bid to move beyond scandal

PORTO, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI wrapped up a trip to Portugal on Friday with an appeal to spread the faith, capping a pilgrimage marked by an explicit admission of church guilt in the clerical abuse scandal with a fresh bid to move beyond the crisis.
Benedict celebrated … Read more »».

Hasina assures better upkeep of Hindu temples

DHAKA – Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured better upkeep of Hindu temples and a discussion on amending law pertaining to property belonging to religious minorities.

She announced Wednesday the decision to develop the Kantajir Mandir in Dinajpur in the northern region as well as renovation and restoration of the ancient Dhakeshwari temple and …. Source article  : Hasina assures better upkeep of Hindu temples.

US seeks to pressure China on human rights while not ruining ties

US, China begin human rights talks
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration faces a delicate balancing act in human rights talks with China that began Thursday: It looks to pressure China to improve its treatment of its citizens while not angering a country that is crucial to U.S. international interests.
The two-day meeting in Washington also … Read more »».

Pope on Fatima pilgrimage decries abortion and same-sex marriage as insidious threats

Pope decries abortion, same-sex marriage at Fatima

FATIMA, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday called abortion and same-sex marriage some of the most “insidious and dangerous” threats facing the world today, asserting key church teachings as he tried to move beyond the clerical abuse scandal.
Benedict made the comments to Catholic social workers, health providers and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pope on Fatima pilgrimage decries abortion and same-sex marriage as insidious threats.

Supreme Court refuses to help legislator who holds court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday declined to interfere with the Allahabad High Court’s proceedings looking into allegations that a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator from Uttar Pradesh holds a parallel court and dispenses justice.

A bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar let the high court deal with …. Source article  : Supreme Court refuses to help legislator who holds court.

Israeli officials vow to build for Jews, demolish Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem

Israelis: No halt to east Jerusalem construction

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hawkish coalition partners vowed Thursday to keep building Jewish homes and demolishing unauthorized Palestinian homes in contested east Jerusalem – despite indications the Israeli leader has put the brakes on both.
The United States opposes both at this delicate time, when indirect talks between …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Israeli officials vow to build for Jews, demolish Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem.

Pope offers hope against suffering at outdoor Mass in Fatima

Pope offers hope against suffering at Fatima Mass

FATIMA, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday offered comfort to those enduring hardship, telling some 400,000 pilgrims at the Fatima shrine that suffering is not in vain.
The outdoor Mass was the centerpiece of Benedict’s four-day visit to Portugal and marked the anniversary of the day 93 years …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Turn from ‘death and terror’ to love of God, says Pope

FATIMA – Pope Benedict XVI Thursday urged humanity to turn away from selfishness, death and terror to the love of God, as he spoke at a gigantic open-air mass in Fatima.

“At a time when the human family was ready to sacrifice all that was most sacred on the altar of the petty and selfish interests …. Original source  : Turn from ‘death and terror’ to love of God, says Pope.

AP sources: US to join advisory group despite concern over possible anti-Israel bias

AP sources: US to join advisory group once shunned
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is preparing to join an international advisory group that the U.S. has largely shunned due to fears it would adopt anti-Israeli and anti-Western stances, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
The officials told The Associated Press the administration plans to announce as early …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Deoband denies ‘fatwa’ against working women

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI – Darul Uloom Deoband, India’s foremost Islamic seminary, Wednesday denied it has asked Muslim women not to work along with men and said it only suggested that working women should dress “properly”.

“We had only given an opinion based on Sharia that women need to be properly covered in government and private offices,” …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Deoband denies ‘fatwa’ against working women.

Church is learning to live in global world, says Pope

LISBON – Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday declared the Catholic Church was in a process of learning how to live with “other truths” while continuing to proclaim the Christian faith.

“The church, in her adherence to the eternal character of truth, is in the process of learning how to live with respect for other ‘truths’ and for … Original source on Gaea Times at : Church is learning to live in global world, says Pope.

No ‘fatwa’ against working women, says Deoband

NEW DELHI – Darul Uloom Deoband, India’s foremost Islamic seminary, Wednesday denied asking Muslim women not to work along with men and said it only suggested that working women should dress “properly”.

“We had only given an opinion based on Sharia that women need to be properly covered in government and private offices,” said Maulana Adnan …. Read the original article  : here.

Austrian bishop questions celibacy, says married men should be allowed to become priests

Austrian bishop questions celibacy
VIENNA – An Austrian bishop who has disagreed with the Vatican in the past about needed reforms said in an interview published Wednesday that the Catholic church should drop its celibacy requirement for priests.

Eisenstadt Bishop Paul Iby told the Die Presse daily that it should be up to priests to decide whether … Read more »».

Pope recalls Portugal’s adventurous missionary past in urging rediscovery of Christian roots

Pope urges Portugal to rediscover Christian roots

LISBON, Portugal – Pope Benedict XVI recalled Portugal’s glorious past as a country of adventurers and missionaries who spread Catholicism around the globe in urging a rediscovery of its Christian heritage Wednesday – a key theme of his message to an increasingly secularized Europe.
Benedict met with members of Portugal’s …. Original article  : Pope recalls Portugal’s adventurous missionary past in urging rediscovery of Christian roots.

Filipino Muslim rebels ready to talk peace with new president-apparent Aquino

Filipino rebels ready to talk peace with Aquino

MANILA, Philippines – Muslim guerrillas said Sunday that they were ready to enter into peace talks with Philippine president-apparent Benigno Aquino III after years of little progress under his predecessor, hoping that his strong electoral mandate can bolster negotiations to end one of the country’s decades-long rebellions.
Moro Islamic … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Filipino Muslim rebels ready to talk peace with new president-apparent Aquino.

Akshaya Tritiya To Witness 20,000 Weddings

DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Sunday May 16 which happens to the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya is all set to witness a huge number of weddings in Delhi. Reportedly, couples have lined up to tie the knot on this day of Akshaya Tritiya which is considered to be a holy day according to the Indian Calender.

Among …. Source article  : Akshaya Tritiya To Witness 20,000 Weddings.

Ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest removal of ancient graves to make way for new emergency room

Ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest grave removal

ASHKELON, Israel – Israeli antiquities authorities operating under heavy police guard began relocating ancient graves on Sunday to make way for construction of a hospital emergency room, setting off protests from ultra-Orthodox Jews who say Jewish remains are being disturbed.
Officers forcibly carried off dozens of demonstrators who had staged a sit-in …. Read the original article  : Ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest removal of ancient graves to make way for new emergency room.

Phoenix Catholic hospital nun rebuked for agreeing that woman needed abortion to save her life

Phoenix hospital nun rebuked for allowing abortion

PHOENIX – A nun and administrator at a Catholic hospital in Phoenix has been reassigned and rebuked by the local bishop for agreeing that a severely ill woman needed an abortion to survive.
Sister Margaret McBride was on an ethics committee that included doctors that consulted with a young woman … Read more : Phoenix Catholic hospital nun rebuked for agreeing that woman needed abortion to save her life.

Episcopal church in Los Angeles ordains 2 women, including the church’s 2nd openly gay bishop

Episcopal church ordains its 2nd openly gay bishop

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Seven years after the Episcopal Church caused an uproar by consecrating its first openly gay bishop, it has done the same thing again – only this time with a woman.
The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, was ordained and consecrated on Saturday, making her … Read more »»».

Episcopal church in Los Angeles ordains 2 women, including 2nd gay bishop

Episcopal church in LA ordains 2nd gay bishop

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Episcopal Church has ordained its second openly gay bishop.
Church spokesman Bob Williams says the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, was consecrated Saturday at a ceremony attended by 3,000 people in Long Beach, Calif.
Glasspool and another female bishop are also the first two … Read more >>>.

Pope insists bad seeds in priesthood don’t obscure good work done by church

Pope: Bad seeds in priesthood can’t obscure good

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday lamented that the clerical abuse scandals were eclipsing the Catholic church’s reputation as a place of hope, but insisted that bad seeds in the priesthood cannot eliminate the good the church does.
Benedict cited the Gospel parable about a sower and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pope insists bad seeds in priesthood don’t obscure good work done by church.

Government policies for minorities answer to fatwas: Khurshid

NEW DELHI – The government’s policy of opening more banks in areas dominated by the minorities was an effective “condemnation” of fatwas warning Muslims against going to banks or taking out life insurance policies, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid said Saturday.

“My greatest condemnation of such things is through the figures (of the …. Source article  : Government policies for minorities answer to fatwas: Khurshid.

Muslim clerics condemn scholar’s arrest

NEW DELHI – Muslim leaders Saturday condemned the arrest of an Islamic scholar after a scare on a London-bound flight when a woman passenger complained to the flight crew about his “dangerous conversation”.

Maulana Noor-ul-Huda, who runs Farooqiya Madrasa in Deoband, was on his way to London to deliver lectures when he was arrested after … Read : Muslim clerics condemn scholar’s arrest.

Iranian cleric wants to see creation of ‘Greater Iran’ to rule over Middle East, Central Asia

Iranian cleric wants creation of ‘Greater Iran’

TEHRAN, Iran – A radical cleric called Saturday for the creation of a “Greater Iran” that would rule over the entire Middle East and Central Asia, in an event that he said would herald the coming of Islam’s expected messiah.
Ayatollah Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi said the creation of what he …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Iranian cleric wants to see creation of ‘Greater Iran’ to rule over Middle East, Central Asia.

Episcopal church in LA to ordain 2 women, including 2nd gay bishop

Episcopal church in LA to ordain 2nd gay bishop

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Seven years after the Episcopal Church caused an uproar by consecrating its first openly gay bishop, it’s set to do the same thing again – only this time with a woman.
The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, will be ordained and consecrated on … Read more >>>.