Cremations to cost more, Indians unhappy

LEICESTER – The Indian community here is worried because the local city council has plans to hike the cost of cremation.

The Gilroes Crematorium, which carries out 3,200 cremations every year, may increase the fee from 500 to 610 pounds this year.
The increase is to be in the form of an “environmental levy” which the …. Read the original article  : Cremations to cost more, Indians unhappy.

Pope to create new Vatican office to fight secularization, re-evangelize West

Pope to create new office to fight secularization

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI is creating a new Vatican office to fight secularization and “re-evangelize” the West – a tacit acknowledgment that his attempts to reinvigorate Christianity in Europe haven’t succeeded and need a new boost.
Benedict announced the new office during a vespers’ service Monday, confirming … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pope to create new Vatican office to fight secularization, re-evangelize West.

Somnath Trust plans temple-township

GANDHINAGAR – The Somnath Trust Monday decided to prepare a comprehensive temple-township plan for the temple complex and its surrounding region.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani proposed and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi seconded the resolution at the 107th meeting of the trust held at Ahmedabad with former chief minister Keshubhai Petel in …. Original article  : Somnath Trust plans temple-township.

Vatican admonishes Austrian cardinal for his critical comments about former Vatican No. 2

Vatican admonishes Austrian cardinal for comments

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has admonished a leading cardinal for having publicly criticized the former Vatican No. 2 for his handling of clerical abuse cases.
In a remarkable statement Monday, the Vatican said only the pope can make such accusations against a cardinal.
In May, the Vienna archbishop, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, …. Read the original article  : here.

Pope deplores raids on Belgian bishops

Vatican City, June 28 (IANS/AKI) Pope Benedict XVI has criticised as “surprising and deplorable” the controversial raids conducted by Belgian police investigating alleged child sex abuse.

In a message to Belgian bishops Sunday, the pope expressed solidarity “in this moment of sadness”.
Benedict was sending a clear message to the head of the Belgian bishops’ … Read more : Pope deplores raids on Belgian bishops.

Bihar to approach Sri Lanka for Bodhi tree sapling

PATNA – The Bihar government will approach Sri Lanka for another sapling of the Bodhi tree after the first one planted by Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama here wilted due to negligence, triggering anger in the Buddhist community.

Bihar Art and Culture Minister Renu Devi told IANS Monday over telephone that the state government will approach … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bihar to approach Sri Lanka for Bodhi tree sapling.

Malaysian men wash corpses, counsel women in bid for young Muslim leader title on reality TV

Malaysia reality TV seeks young male Muslim leader

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The 10 young men have washed corpses according to Islamic rites, cried while counseling unmarried pregnant women and joined a police crackdown on teenage motorcycle racers – all before judges on national TV.
A Malaysian cable station has given a reality show makeover to its …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysian men wash corpses, counsel women in bid for young Muslim leader title on reality TV.

Do’s and don’ts issued for Amarnath pilgrimage

SRINAGAR – The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Sunday issued detailed Do’s and Don’ts for pilgrims to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, saying they must first obtain a permit.

The chief executive officer of SASB, Raj Kumar Goyal, Sunday appealed to the yatris (pilgrims) to embark on the pilgrimage only after obtaining …. Source  : Do’s and don’ts issued for Amarnath pilgrimage.

Karachi wracked by spate of targeted killings, reflection of problems throughout Pakistan

Pakistan’s Karachi wracked by spate of killings
KARACHI, Pakistan – Asif Raza and his brother were killed days apart and in the same manner: gunned down on the streets of Pakistan’s largest city. Their relatives insist the pair was targeted by Sunni extremists only because they were Shiites.
Around the same time, Rizwan Qadri, a …. Original source  : Karachi wracked by spate of targeted killings, reflection of problems throughout Pakistan.

Saudis provide mobile prayer rugs for football fans

RIYADH – Saudi religious police are laying prayer rugs in the streets to encourage football fans not to miss their prayers when watching World Cup matches, news reports said Sunday.

Small rugs have been rolled out at specially assigned places in Tahlia Street, one of Riyadh’s main thoroughfares, where football lovers gather to watch World Cup …. Source  : Saudis provide mobile prayer rugs for football fans.

Pakistan school chain focuses on secular elites to win converts to conservative Islam

In Pakistan, Islamic schools for women thrive

ISLAMABAD – To its detractors, the Al-Huda chain of Islamic schools across Pakistan is a driver of conservative Islam, especially among the secular elite. But to the thousands who attend its classes across the country, it is a blessing.
Take Mariam Afzal, who says she was once so selfish she … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pakistan school chain focuses on secular elites to win converts to conservative Islam.

Reports: Vatican No. 2 says Belgian raids in abuse case are unprecedented even under Communism

Vatican No. 2 increases criticism of Belgian raids

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican’s No. 2 official says raids carried out by Belgian police investigating sex abuse allegations are unprecedented even under communism.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, said Saturday that the raids were “an unheard-of and grave fact,” according to the ANSA and Apcom news …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Baha’i choir returns to capital after 24 years

NEW DELHI – Twenty-four years after the Baha’i choir performed at the Lotus Temple in the capital, the Baha’i house of worship once again reverberated with the “Voices of Baha”, a rainbow choir from 25 countries.

The choir that performed in India in 1986 on the eve of the temple’s 25th birthday to render gospel … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Baha’i choir returns to capital after 24 years.

613th birth anniversary of poet-saint Kabir celebrated

AGRA – More than 2,000 Kabirpanthis, followers of 15th century devotional poet Kabir Das, gathered here Saturday to celebrate his 613th birth anniversary or “praktyotsava (appearance in human form)” of the saint.

The one-day event at the Soor Sadan auditorium here included a satsang and recital of his ‘dohe (couplets)’ to the accompaniment of Kabiri musical … Original article on : 613th birth anniversary of poet-saint Kabir celebrated.

Puri sees bath festival

PURI – The annual bath festival of the three deities at the temple town of Puri took place Saturday with thousands witnessing the event.

The deities of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra were taken out of the temple in a ceremonial procession to the snana mandap – a bathing platform in the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Puri sees bath festival.

Unesco unhappy with Mahabodhi temple

PATNA – Eight years after the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar was declared a World Heritage Site, Unesco is unhappy with its management for flouting safety and maintenance guidelines.

“Unesco is unhappy over the continued practice of lighting fire lamps, candles and incense sticks near the Bodhi tree by devotees and conservation work at the site,” a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Unesco unhappy with Mahabodhi temple.

All set for Amarnath yatra, pilgrims apprehensive

JAMMU – With shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir becoming routine and separatists demanding a curtailed Amarnath yatra, an air of uncertainty and apprehension has gripped thousands of Hindu pilgrims assembling here.

While pilgrims pouring into Jammu are happy about the arrangements made for the annual pilgrimage starting July 1, they feel that the situation in … Original article on : All set for Amarnath yatra, pilgrims apprehensive.

Panel set up by Austria’s Catholic Church recommends up to ???25,000 ($30,700) for abuse victims

Austrian church readies abuse compensation

VIENNA – A special panel set up by Austria’s Roman Catholic Church says it is recommending payments of up to euro25,000 ($30,700) to those abused by clergy or church officials.
Panel officials say they recommend euro5,000 in compensation for minor cases, euro15,000 for more serious ones and euro25,000 for extremely grave instances … Read more >>.

Pakistan monitor Google, 6 other sites for un-Islamic content

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has put seven major websites, including the Google search engine, under observation for hosting alleged un-Islamic material, officials said Friday.

The decision to monitor the leading sites was taken by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), after a court in eastern province of Punjab ordered Thursday to ban websites showing blasphemous matter.
PTA also … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan monitor Google, 6 other sites for un-Islamic content.

Vatican says it is ‘astonished’ at the Belgian police raid

Vatican ‘astonished’ at Belgian police raid

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has expressed “astonishment” and “dismay” that Belgian police raided the home and former office of the recently retired archbishop of Belgium as part of an investigation into priestly child abuse.
The Vatican said any sinful and criminal abuse of minors from members of the church must …. Source  : Gaea News Network.