Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays as leaders split on 2 gay-friendly measures

Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays

MINNEAPOLIS – A split decision from Presbyterian leaders on two gay-friendly measures guarantees even more debate among the U.S. church’s members on an issue they’ve been divided over for years.
Delegates to the Presbyterian church’s convention in Minneapolis voted Thursday for a more liberal policy on gay clergy but decided … Original article on : Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays as leaders split on 2 gay-friendly measures.

Shab-E-Meraj Celebrations Start Today

HYDERABAD, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- It is the 9th of July today and Muslims all over India and the world have a reason to celebrate. In a statement issued by the National Moon Sighting Committee in Dhaka, the moon of Rajab has been seen in the skies today, and hence like every year, today has been …. Source  : Shab-E-Meraj Celebrations Start Today.

$14 mn temple to be built in Trinidad and Tobago

Port-of-SPAIN – An Indian born seer has announced the construction of a $14 million temple at Trinidad and Tobago’s Freeport city.

The construction work will commence on Divali, which will be celebrated Nov 5.
“The Laksmi Narayan Mandir will reflect the ancient Vedic tradition dating back to between 5,000 and 10,000 years. It will be …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : $14 mn temple to be built in Trinidad and Tobago.

Presbyterian leaders approve gay clergy policy, but will keep marriage between man, woman

Presbyterians split on gay-friendly measures

MINNEAPOLIS – Presbyterian leaders split Thursday on two gay-friendly measures, voting to allow non-celibate gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy but deciding not to redefine marriage in their church constitution to include same-sex couples – at least for now.
The surprise vote to shelve the marriage issue at the church’s …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Presbyterian leaders approve gay clergy policy, but will keep marriage between man, woman.

Presbyterian leaders approves gay clergy policy, may define marriage as between ‘two people’

Presbyterian leaders approves gay clergy policy

MINNEAPOLIS – Presbyterian leaders voted Thursday to allow non-celibate gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy, approving the first of two policy changes that could make their church one of the most gay-friendly major Christian denominations in the U.S.
But the vote isn’t a final stamp of approval for the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Presbyterian leaders approves gay clergy policy, may define marriage as between ‘two people’.

Presbyterian leaders approve more liberal gay clergy policy, but won’t be final decision

Presbyterian leaders approve gay clergy policy

MINNEAPOLIS – Presbyterian leaders voted Thursday to allow non-celibate gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy, approving the first of two policy changes that could make their church one of the most gay-friendly major Christian denominations in the U.S.
But the vote isn’t a final stamp of approval for the … Read more »»».

Presbyterians voting on more open stance on gay clergy, marriage; decisions won’t be final

Presbyterians voting on more open stance on gays

MINNEAPOLIS – Presbyterian leaders were set to vote Thursday on whether to allow their church to become one of the most gay-friendly major Christian churches in the U.S. by allowing non-celibate gays to serve as clergy and defining marriage as between “two people.”
But even if both changes pass, …. Read the original article  : here.

Moscow curators whose exhibit offended Russian Orthodox Church call their trial a show

Moscow curators say their trial is political

MOSCOW – Two prominent Moscow art curators facing the prospect of three years in prison for an exhibit that offended the Russian Orthodox Church said on Thursday their trial has been a political show.
The 2007 exhibit “Forbidden Art” set up by Yuri Samodurov and Andrei Yerofeyev featured paintings with … Read more : Moscow curators whose exhibit offended Russian Orthodox Church call their trial a show.

ISKCON barred from seeking donations at LA airport

WASHINGTON – A US court has barred the Hare Krishna movement from seeking donations at the Los Angeles International Airport.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Los Angeles allowed the Los Angeles Police to enforce a 13-year-old municipal ordinance to prevent members of the movement from seeking donations at the airport by lifting a preliminary …. Read the original article  : ISKCON barred from seeking donations at LA airport.

Prayers and the peacock – dancing in tune with namaz

LUCKNOW – As others lower their heads and offer namaaz, it stands in the courtyard of the mosque and does an elegant dance. No one minds, however, for the dancer in question is a peacock, and surely dance too is a form of devotion.

The peacock, fondly called “ooper wale ka parinda’ (the bird of the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prayers and the peacock – dancing in tune with namaz.

News reports say UK gay priest rejected as nominee for bishopric

News reports: gay priest rejected for UK bishopric

LONDON – A Church of England committee has decided against nominating a gay priest to become a bishop, British news reports said Thursday.
Church officials would not comment, but Jonathan Wynne-Jones reported in Thursday’s Daily Telegraph that the Very Rev. Jeffrey John was rejected as a potential nominee to …. Original source  : News reports say UK gay priest rejected as nominee for bishopric.

Iraqi premier in Beirut to pay respects to late top Shiite cleric Fadlallah

Iraqi PM pays respects to late top Lebanese cleric

BEIRUT – Iraq’s prime minister paid his respects to Lebanon’s late top Shiite cleric during a brief visit to Beirut Thursday.
Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was one of the founders of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawa party. The revered cleric was also believed to be the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Iraqi premier in Beirut to pay respects to late top Shiite cleric Fadlallah.

Fungus preys on ‘meditating monk’s’ mummy

GEU – The mummified body of a ‘meditating monk’ believed to be 550 years old is wasting away. Fungus has set in and loss of body mass is causing concern among the residents of this village in Lahaul and Spiti district as they worship it.

Villagers believe that the mummified lama was sitting in deep meditation … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Fungus preys on ‘meditating monk’s’ mummy.

Catholic Church says Cuba agrees to free 52 political prisoners, nearly a third of all held

Church: Cuba agrees to free 52 political prisoners
HAVANA – Cuba has promised the Roman Catholic Church it will free 52 political prisoners, slashing the number held by nearly a third in what would be the communist-led island’s largest release of dissidents since Pope John Paul II visited in 1998.
Five are to … Original article on : Catholic Church says Cuba agrees to free 52 political prisoners, nearly a third of all held.

Malaysia appoints 1st female Islamic court judges to curb discrimination against women

Malaysia appoints 1st female Islamic court judges

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia’s Islamic Shariah courts have appointed their first female judges – a move praised by women’s rights activists Thursday as a boost for a judicial system often accused of favoring men.
Suraya Ramli and Rafidah Abdul Razak, formerly officials at the government’s Islamic judicial department, were …. Source article  : Malaysia appoints 1st female Islamic court judges to curb discrimination against women.

Catholic Church says Cuba offers to free 52 political prisoners, let them leave country

Church: Cuba offers to free 52 political prisoners

HAVANA – The Roman Catholic Church said Wednesday that Cuba’s communist government has agreed to free 52 political prisoners and allow them to leave the country in what would be the island’s largest mass liberation of dissidents in decades.
Five would be released in a matter of hours and …. Original article  : Catholic Church says Cuba offers to free 52 political prisoners, let them leave country.

Catholic Church says Cuba offers to free 47 political prisoners, let them leave country

Church: Cuba offers to free 47 political prisoners

HAVANA – Cuba’s Roman Catholic Church said Wednesday that the communist government has agreed to free 47 political prisoners and allow them to leave the country in what would be the largest mass liberation of prisoners of conscience on the island in decades.
The announcement followed a meeting between …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Anxiety seems to fuel religious extremism

TORONTO – Anxiety and uncertainty can egg us on to become more radical in our religious beliefs, according to a series of new studies.

In the studies, conducted by York University researchers, more than 600 participants were placed in anxiety-provoking or neutral situations.
They were then asked to describe their personal goals and rate their …. Source  : Anxiety seems to fuel religious extremism.

Iranian organization issues guidelines for modest hairstyles to combat ‘Western’ fashion

Iran offers modest new haircut guidelines for men

TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian fashion organization has issued a new list of culturally appropriate haircuts for men, possibly indicating a new crackdown on male attire after years of strict rules for women, Iranian media reported.
Although the Ministry of Culture has yet to officially adopt the styles presented … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Iranian organization issues guidelines for modest hairstyles to combat ‘Western’ fashion.

French parliament opens debate on veil ban

PARIS – The French parliament late Tuesday began debating a proposed law to ban veiling of faces in public, a controversial move aimed mainly at traditional dress worn by some Muslim women.

If the bill becomes law, any woman wearing the face veil in public would be liable to a fine of 150 euros ($184), or …. Read the original article  : French parliament opens debate on veil ban.