BJP to back Ranchi shutdown against temples demolitions

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended moral support to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-sponsored shutdown on Sunday to protest the Ranchi administration’s move to demolish 39 temples constructed on government land.

“Our party is against demolition of any temple in the state. We extend our moral support to the shutdown called by the …. Source  : BJP to back Ranchi shutdown against temples demolitions.

Vaishno Devi shrine board to help out Leh victims

JAMMU – The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is to provide Rs.50 lakh for the relief of victims of the cloudburst and flashfloods in Leh, an official said.

“The money is being released by the shrine board on the directions of Governor N.N. Vohra,” an official of the board told IANS Saturday. At least 180 people … Read : Vaishno Devi shrine board to help out Leh victims.

Muslim group slams NY Gov. Paterson for describing mosque developers as ‘almost westernized’

NY gov slammed for ‘westernized’ Muslims comment

ALBANY, N.Y. – Muslim leaders in the United States are criticizing Gov. David Paterson for his description of the developers of an Islamic center and mosque planned near ground zero as peaceful, “almost westernized” Muslims.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council said Paterson mischaracterized the sect known as Sufi and his …. Source article  : Muslim group slams NY Gov. Paterson for describing mosque developers as ‘almost westernized’.

Church court convicts California minister of misconduct for performing same-sex weddings

Church: Calif. minister guilty for marrying gays

SAN FRANCISCO – A retired Presbyterian minister was found guilty of misconduct Friday by a church court for officiating the weddings of 16 gay couples when same-sex marriage was legal in California.
A regional commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled 4-2 that the Rev. Jane Spahr of San Francisco … Read : Church court convicts California minister of misconduct for performing same-sex weddings.

Tut-tut: Security gaps seen in Egypt’s museums after theft of van Gogh painting in Cairo

Tut-tut: Security problems seen in Egypt’s museums

CAIRO – The Egyptian Museum houses some of the world’s prized antiquities, including the gold mask of King Tut that draws millions of tourists a year. But it also has an outdated video surveillance system that doesn’t work around the clock and guards who snooze, read the Quran or …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Fundraising effort begins for Islamic center near ground zero as congregation donates $10,000

Fundraising effort begins for NYC Islamic center

NEW YORK – The developer behind plans to build an Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from ground zero kicked off fundraising for the project Friday by raising $10,000 in just a few minutes from a congregation of Muslim worshippers.
Sharif El-Gamal announced the start of the funding drive …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Fundraising effort begins for Islamic center near ground zero as congregation donates $10,000.

Critics of Lutheran church’s scripture shift, acceptance of gay pastors form new denomination

Lutherans split over gay pastors, Bible beliefs

GROVE CITY, Ohio – Critics of the country’s largest Lutheran denomination and its more open stance toward gay clergy formed a new Lutheran church Friday at a meeting of a conservative activist group.
The overwhelming voice vote by members of the Lutheran Coalition of Renewal created the North American Lutheran … Read : Critics of Lutheran church’s scripture shift, acceptance of gay pastors form new denomination.

Obama bikes and golfs on Martha’s Vineyard, but can’t escape economy

Vacationing Obama can’t escape economy
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – President Barack Obama biked and golfed under a brilliant New England sun Friday, yet he couldn’t escape the cascade of dour news on the economy as his vacation neared its end.
The Commerce Department reported the economy grew at a much slower pace this spring … Read more »»».

Suit: Pennsylvania couple secretly records priest having sex with daughter; she got pregnant

Suit: Priest impregnates Pennsylvania teenager

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A Pennsylvania couple secretly videotaped a Roman Catholic priest having sex with their 18-year-old daughter in the basement of their home and are now suing, saying he got her pregnant.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Berks County Court, alleges that the Rev. Luis A. Bonilla Margarito carried on a …. Source article  : Suit: Pennsylvania couple secretly records priest having sex with daughter; she got pregnant.

Obama, wife, daughters go on vacation bike outing under brilliant skies on Martha’s Vineyard

First family goes on island vacation bike outing
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – President Barack Obama took full advantage of brilliant New England weather on Friday, completing a short bike ride with his family before heading out for a much longer round of golf as his Martha’s Vineyard vacation wound down.
It wasn’t all games though. Before … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama, wife, daughters go on vacation bike outing under brilliant skies on Martha’s Vineyard.

Utah Supreme Court rejects appeal from polygamous sect seeking reversal of land trust changes

Utah court rejects appeal from polygamous sect

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition from members of a southern Utah-based polygamous sect seeking a reversal of changes made to its communal land trust.
In a ruling issued Friday, justices say members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints waited … Read more : Utah Supreme Court rejects appeal from polygamous sect seeking reversal of land trust changes.

Lawyer: More than 1,000 documents from early days of Nation of Islam found in Detroit home

Early Nation of Islam documents found in Detroit

DETROIT – More than 1,000 documents, including some dating back to the beginning of the Nation of Islam, were found in the attic of a home in Detroit, the city where the secretive movement started 80 years ago, a lawyer said.
Attorney Gregory Reed unveiled some documents, letters and … Read more : Lawyer: More than 1,000 documents from early days of Nation of Islam found in Detroit home.

Two Mother Teresa coins to be released

NEW DELHI – Two coins will be released Saturday to mark the birth centenary of Mother Teresa.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will release the coins – of Rs.100 and Rs.5 denominations – at a function here to be attended by President Pratibha Patil, spokesperson of the centenary celebration committee Father Babu Joseph told IANS.
A special …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Exhibition of Mother Teresa’s photos on in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Her compassion-filled eyes, divine smile with hands folded in greeting, and a healing touch – photographs of Mother Teresa are on display at an arts gallery in the capital to mark her birth centenary.

Organised jointly by the Indian Bishops’ Conference, UNESCO and Mother Teresa’s own Missionaries of Charity order, the exhibition … Read : Exhibition of Mother Teresa’s photos on in Delhi.

Mother Teresa demonstrated power of compassion: Navin Chawla

NEW DELHI – Navin Chawla, former chief election commissioner and biographer of Mother Teresa, Friday said that she will be remembered for demonstrating the “power of compassion in a complex, modern world”.

Participating in a national symposium here, Chawla said Mother Teresa became a powerful woman in the conflict-ridden world through compassion, humility and the …. Source  : Mother Teresa demonstrated power of compassion: Navin Chawla.

Suspect accused of slashing Muslim cabbie’s neck is taken from jail to NYC psychiatric ward

NYC cabbie-slash suspect is taken to psych ward

NEW YORK – A college student accused of slashing a taxi driver because he is a Muslim was moved from jail to a psychiatric ward, corrections officials said Friday.
Michael Enright, 21, of Brewster, N.Y., was accused of using a folding knife to slash the face and neck of …. Original source  : Suspect accused of slashing Muslim cabbie’s neck is taken from jail to NYC psychiatric ward.

VHP protests move to demolish Ranchi temples

RANCHI – Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP) activists held a protest here Friday against the Ranchi district administration’s move to demolish 39 temples constructed on government land and has also called a shutdown Sunday on the issue.

“We burnt the effigy symbolising officials of the Ranchi district administration today. The move to demolish the temples is … Read more »»».

Shirdi now connected to Mumbai by rail

SHIRDI – The famous temple town of Shirdi, the abode of the Saibaba, was put on the country’s railway map with the inauguration Friday of a tri-weekly superfast train connecting it with Mumbai.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan flagged off the special Sainagar Shirdi-Dadar train at Sainagar Shirdi, the railway station named after Maharashtra’s most popular and …. Original article  : Shirdi now connected to Mumbai by rail.

Vatican: Church not playing politics but defending rights in deploring French Gypsy expulsion

Vatican: Church defends rights of Gypsies
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican’s top official for migrants says the church’s defense of Gypsies expelled by France isn’t meddling in politics.

Monsignor Agostino Marchetto told a French religious news agency the church is “neither on the right nor on the left nor on the center” but simply showing pastoral concern …. Read the original article  : Vatican: Church not playing politics but defending rights in deploring French Gypsy expulsion.

39 temples on government land face demolition

RANCHI – As many as 39 temples constructed on government land in Ranchi district of Jharkhand have been issued notices asking why they should not be pulled down, an official said Friday.

Some of the temples are more than 50 to 60 years old where thousands of devotees pray every day.
The authorities of the temples …. Original article  : 39 temples on government land face demolition.