Religion News – Weekly Newsletter for February 1-7, 2011

Burial battle intensifies in Nepal

KATHMANDU – Scores of demonstrators flocked to the holiest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath Monday to protest against the newly enforced ban on burying non-Hindus on the temple’s forested land even as the former Hindu kingdom’s culture minister warned the state would take tough steps to uphold the ban.

“Today’s protest is just a symbolic one,” … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Burial battle intensifies in Nepal.

Community mobilisers inch closer towards making India polio-free

MEERUT – Munzareen Fatima was excited when she was featured as a dedicated polio worker in Oscar-nominated documentary “The Final Inch” in 2009. The 40-year-old, who is a Unicef community mobiliser in her real life as well, awaits the day when India will be declared polio free.

Munzareen is part of an over 5,000-strong team …. Original article  : Community mobilisers inch closer towards making India polio-free.

Nepal PM steps in to defuse religious row over burials

KATHMANDU – The ugly religious row that erupted near one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world showed signs of calming down Tuesday after Nepal’s caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal intervened, promising status quo to a minority community.

The Kirats of Nepal, an ancient hunting tribe that migrated to Nepal from Tibet and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nepal PM steps in to defuse religious row over burials.

No conclusion drawn on Karmapa issue: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – With central agencies and Himachal Pradesh police probing the huge currency haul from the monastery of the 17th Karmapa Lama, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Monday said it was difficult to come to any conclusion on the issue till the probe was completed.

“I have been briefed. But I am not prepared …. Original article  : No conclusion drawn on Karmapa issue: Chidambaram.

Kerala government told to take over Padmanabhaswamy temple

KOCHI – The Kerala High Court Monday asked the state government to take over control of the 16th century Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in the heart of the capital city. The temple, at present, is maintained by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.

A division bench of the court gave the direction while disposing a bunch … Read more >>>.

Nepal court comes to Pashupatinath’s aid

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s apex court Monday came to the aid of one of the nation’s oldest and holiest Hindu temples, asking the government not to tamper with the treasury of Pashupatinath till the dispute was resolved.

The single bench of Supreme Court judge Girish Chandra Lal slapped an interim stay order on the caretaker governments … Read more >>>.

Himachal to have probe wing to keep tabs on Tibetans

NEW DELHI – In the wake of the seizure of unaccounted money from a monastery of the Karmapa Lama, the Himachal Pradesh government will set up an investigation wing to keep tabs on the activities of Tibetan exiles settled across the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Tuesday.

He also told the chief ministers’ … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Himachal to have probe wing to keep tabs on Tibetans.

‘Homosexuality result of violent emotional abuse’

LONDON – The new imam at the proposed Ground Zero mosque in New York has said that homosexuality is the result of “violent emotional or sexual abuse at some point in the life of the gay people”.

Abdallah Adhami, 44, was appointed a senior adviser last month to the “Park51″ project at Ground Zero, … Read more »»».

Sherry Rehman withdraws bill for blasphemy law amendment

ISLAMABAD – Former cabinet minister and member of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sherry Rehman has withdrawn a bill tabled in the national assembly proposing amendments in the blasphemy law, a media report said.

Samaa TV reported Wednesday evening that Rehman withdrew the bill on the directions of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Gilani … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sherry Rehman withdraws bill for blasphemy law amendment.

Obama’s prayer: ‘Lord, have that skirt get longer’

WASHINGTON – Like any other father of a growing daughter, Barack Obama too has to sometimes summon the help of God. In fact, he says being president “has a funny way of making a person feel the need to pray.”

At the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday, Obama departed from an otherwise serious talk about prayer …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Obama’s prayer: ‘Lord, have that skirt get longer’.

Cash row renews clash of rival Karmapas

DHARAMSALA – The recovery of unaccounted money worth nearly Rs.7 crore (Rs.70 million) from the monastery of Tibetan leader Karmapa Lama has renewed the succession controversy in the Karma Kagyu sect, with two rival monks claiming to be the ‘real’ Karmapa.

An important institution in the Tibetan religious set-up, the Karmapa Lama is the spiritual … Read more >>>.

Wajahat Habibullah is new head of minorities’ panel

NEW DELHI – Former bureaucrat and India’s first chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah Thursday took over as the new chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities.

Habibullah will hold the office for a period of three years, said an official of the minority affairs ministry that presides over the minority panel.
A 1968-batch IAS …. Read the original article  : Wajahat Habibullah is new head of minorities’ panel.

Stop solidarity marches for Karmapa, Dhumal tells Tibetans

DHARAMSALA – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal Thursday asked Tibetans to stop carrying out marches to express solidarity with the 17th Karmapa, who was questioned by police last week over the recovery of unaccounted currency amounting to nearly Rs.70 million from his monastery.

“I have asked them to stop marches and wait for the … Read more : Stop solidarity marches for Karmapa, Dhumal tells Tibetans.

Indian firm gets court nod for Islamic banking concept

KOCHI – The Kerala High Court Thursday gave the green signal to a company registered under the tenets of sharia to start operating a financial institution based on the principles of Islamic banking with the participation of a state-run firm.

Such institutions cannot charge interest.
Dismissing the petitions of Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indian firm gets court nod for Islamic banking concept.

Dalai Lama uses donations to fund hospital

DHARAMSALA – A Right to Information (RTI) plea has revealed how Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama uses donations – with at least Rs.1 crore going towards setting up a hospital in Himachal Pradesh.

Information gathered by RTI activist Lawan Thakur of Mandi town Friday showed that the Dalai Lama has donated Rs.1 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Kerala to support Islamic banking venture

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac Friday expressed happiness over a court verdict giving the green signal to Al Barakah Company to start an institution on Islamic banking principles.

The company has planned the venture along with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corp (KSIDC) as an investor.
This is a welcome judgment and the …. Source article  : Kerala to support Islamic banking venture.

Karmapa aides seek anticipatory bail

DHARAMSALA – Two aides of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Friday moved a Himachal Pradesh court seeking anticipatory bail over the seizure of about Rs.7 crore in foreign and Indian currency from the Gyuto Tantric University and Monastery near here.

Gompo Tsering, secretary of the Karmapa, and Tenzin Namgyal, a trustee of a Karmapa …. Read the original article  : Karmapa aides seek anticipatory bail.

Gandhi, Dalai Lama among world’s top icons: Time

DHARAMSALA – Mahatma Gandhi and the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama were Sunday listed by Time magazine among the world’s top 25 political icons.

Mohandas Gandhi, as the magazine called him, was credited with peaceful protests during the British Raj that helped him become the spiritual heart of the Indian independence struggle.
“Gandhi led … Read more »»».

Christians reject report on church attacks: Bangalore archbishop

BANGALORE – Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras Saturday said the Christian community rejects a judicial panel report absolving Hindu groups of a series of attacks on churches in Karnataka in 2008.

The panel “has failed the Christian community”, Moras said, reacting to the findings of the Justice B.K. Somashekara judicial commission which absolved the ruling … Read : Christians reject report on church attacks: Bangalore archbishop.