Page 30 - Religion Belief
Ex-pope Benedict blames Church sex abuse crisis on '68
Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on Thursday blamed the Catholic clerical sex abuse scandals on the 1960s sexual revolution and a collapse in faith in the West. The ex-pope, who retired in 2013, said responsibility for the crises rocking the Roman Catholic Church globally from Australia to Europe lay with the fight for an "all-out sexual freedom, one which no longer admitted any norms". "Part of the physiognomy of the Revolution of '68 was that paedophilia was then also diagnosed as allowed and appropriate," he wrote in a 6,000-word essay for Klerusblatt, a German monthly magazine for clergy. Benedict, who was the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years, said the direct consequence was the "collapse of the next generation of priests in those years and the very high number of laicisations" or priests leaving the Church. The 91 year old said paedophilia "reached such proportions" because of the "absence of God". Some theologians were quick to criticise Benedict's analysis of the causes of
Kerala bids tearful farewell to K.M. Mani
A large number of people with teary eyes on Thursday bid farewell to veteran politician and Kerala Congress-Mani Chairman, K.M. Mani, who passed away in Kochi on Tuesday.
Rugby player Israel Folau set to face contract termination after homophobic post
Australian rugby player Israel Folau is likely to face contract termination after he shared a homophobic post on social media.Folau took Instagram to share the image reading: "WARNING drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, and idolaters HELL AWAITS YOU REPENT! ONLY JESUS SAVES.""Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him," the rugby player captioned the post.The post did not go down well with Rugby Australia, the sport's governing body, and issued a statement with their "intention to terminate his contract.""Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality," Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby Union CEO, Andrew Hore said on
Fire Temple's trust denies in HC allegation of discrimination against women
A Fire Temple trust told the Delhi High Court Thursday that it does not profess gender discrimination as even men bleeding from a bodily injury are not allowed entry to the place of worship, just as menstruating women. The trust, Delhi Parsi Anjuman, told a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani that as the temple near Delhi Gate here was privately funded by Parsi Zoroastrians, no one else has the right under the law to demand entry into it. The DPA submissions were in response to a PIL which alleged that persons belonging to other races and religions were being discriminated against by denying them entry into the temple. The petition, by lawyer Sanjjiiv Kkumaar, has also sought entry of menstruating women into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. DPA contended that Kkumaar's plea was "misconceived" and liable to be dismissed as the reliefs sought by him were "constitutionally impermissible", violated the rights of all Zoroastrians and was "ignorant" of the ...
NZ police arrest Trump fan over Christchurch mosque abuse
New Zealand police on Thursday arrested a man spotted in a "Trump" tee-shirt hurling abuse at worshippers outside one of the Christchurch mosques where dozens were killed in a massacre last month. Police said the 33-year-old man had "shaken" the Muslim community late Wednesday at the Al Noor mosque by shouting abuse at people. "Our community has no tolerance for those who target or victimise others because of their identity, and nor does police," Canterbury district commander superintendent John Price said in a statement Wednesday. "This is especially so for members of our Muslim community who are already dealing with so much," he added. The man described as being "of solid build with short dark hair and a tattoo on his left shoulder/neck area", walked off into the park opposite the mosque after the incident, but was later apprehended. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-avowed white supremacist, has been charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder over the ...
Japan Catholic Church to begin investigating sex abuse cases
The Catholic Church in Japan is preparing to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against minors by its priests, including accusations from 20 years ago, amid widening pedophilia scandals. The Catholic Bishops' Conference in Japan said Thursday it has established a committee per district but details of an investigation haven't been decided. The conference said surveys found two reported cases in 2002 and five in 2015, which weren't disclosed or verified. It said they will be retroactively investigated. The decision comes after Pope Francis convened a bishops' summit in February to press responses to worldwide scandals. He is expected to visit Japan in November in the first papal visit to the country since John Paul II in 1981. Japan's Catholic community is about 440,000, or 0.3 percent of the population.
NZ police seek man over Christchurch mosque worshipper abuse
New Zealand police on Thursday were seeking a man who allegedly hurled abuse at worshippers outside one of the Christchurch mosques where dozens were killed in a massacre last month. Police said the man was wearing a "Trump" t-shirt and black cap and had "shaken" the Muslim community late Wednesday at the Al Noor mosque by shouting abuse at people. "Our community has no tolerance for those who target or victimise others because of their identity, and nor does police," Canterbury district commander superintendent John Price said in a statement Wednesday. "This is especially so for members of our Muslim community who are already dealing with so much," he added. The man walked off into the park opposite the mosque after the incident. Police renewed their calls Thursday, seeking to identify the man they described as "of solid build with short dark hair and a tattoo on his left shoulder/neck area". Police said they are reviewing their response as two armed officers were at the mosque at ..
Bengaluru-based Saddam Hussein keeps this Ram temple clean and running
In what could be perceived as an example of devotion with no boundaries, a 27-year-old Muslim man has been cleaning and taking care of a Ram temple here for the past three years.Ahead of Ram Navami - the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram - 27-year-old Saddam Hussein is once again engaged in cleaning up the premises.Hussein says he finds peace of mind while working at the Lord's adobe.The temple, situated in Rajajinagar area of the city, is thronged by a large number of devotes who also appreciate and encourage the work being done by Hussein.Speaking to ANI, Venkatesh Babu, an office-bearer in the temple committee, said, "He has been working with me at my shop for over 18 years. After I was elected as an office bearer of the temple committee, I gave him the responsibility of cleaning the temple. He comes every year before Ram Navami and cleans the temple.""There are no issues between Hindus and Muslims in this region. We all live in complete harmony. This all is a political issue ...
Pak court orders teenage Christian girl back in parents' custody
A court here on Wednesday ordered that a teenage Pakistani Christian girl, who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam after marrying off to a Muslim man in February, be handed over to her parents. Shalat Masih, 14, was produced by police in the Lahore High Court and said that she was abducted from her native town Faisalabad and later sold to a Muslim man. The girl's father told the court that some members of the Christian community of his locality had abducted his daughter and later sold her off to a Muslim man named Zafar Iqbal. "After forcibly converting her to Islam, Iqbal married the underage girl. She was later taken to the Jamia Rizvia Mazhar-i-Islam Faisalabad on February 20 and was renamed Ayesha," he was quoted as saying by the Dawn. During the hearing, Justice Tariq Saleem Shaikh ordered handing over the girl to her parents. In a similar case last month, two Hindu sisters --Reena, Raveena, were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in ...
A liar cannot be the ruler of India: Azam Khan
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of creating a "divide between Hindus and Muslims in the country" and of lying to the nation."Modiji you have no other topic other than Pakistan and Muslims. You have created a divide between Hindus and Muslims in the country by instilling hatred for Muslims in the hearts of the Hindus," he said at a public rally here."The ruler of a nation should not lie and the one who lies cannot be a ruler," Khan, who is contesting polls from the Rampur seat, added.The former cabinet minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government asked people from Dalit and backward communities to realise the power the two communities had in the upcoming elections."My friends from the Dalit and backward communities, you need to unite. After 70 years you have got this opportunity to decide who will unfurl the tricolour at the Red Fort. You have got the right after a long time. The one on whose head you place the crown will be India's ...
Cong, SP-BSP have faith in Ali, but we have in Bajrangbali: Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that if the Congress, SP, and BSP have faith in 'Ali,' then "we have faith in Bajrangbali.""Mayawati in her speech in Saharanpur says that if they get Muslim votes, then they will not need any other's vote. If Congress, SP, and BSP trust Ali, then we have faith in Bajrangbali," said the Chief Minister while addressing an election rally here."They have agreed that followers of Bajranbali will never forgive them. That is why they go on stages and cry 'Ali-Ali' and they want to send a 'green virus' to bite the country," he said.Addressing an election rally at Saharanpur's Deoband town, Mayawati had said: "I appeal to Muslims that the Congress is not capable of defeating the BJP. Only the alliance parties are capable of doing it. The Congress does not want the alliance to win. I appeal to Muslims that vote for the alliance only. Do not vote for the Congress."Chief Minister Yogi said: "There is no need to bring 'green virus' in western Uttar ..
UK to expand crematorium provisions to meet British Hindu demands
The UK government has unveiled plans for a series of measures to expand provisions around crematoria to meet long-standing demands of Britain's Hindu and other communities who believe in cremating their dead as per religious rites. In response to a consultation conducted back in 2016, the UK's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) revealed Monday that the majority of respondents (28.1 per cent) were from Britain's Hindu communities, particularly in north and west London as well as the city of Leicester, who had highlighted specific faith requirements during cremations. "Most respondents highlighted that crematoria struggle to accommodate the large numbers of mourners present at Hindu, Sikh and Jain funerals," the MHCLG review noted. "Other respondents said that there is insufficient time allowed for the service or to administer the last rites, prayers or other rituals such as hand-washing after the cremation. To allow for longer funeral services, respondents ...
1,400-page charge sheet filed against Bishop Franco
Kerala Police on Tuesday submitted a 1,400-page charge sheet against Bishop Franco Mulakkal. The Bishop was arrested for alleged sexually abusing a nun between 2014 and 2016.
DMK is not anti-Hindu, says Stalin
DMK President M.K. Stalin on Tuesday said his party is not against Hinduism as falsely propagated by the BJP.
Mani a dominant player in Ker coalition politics for over 4
Veteran Kerala Congress leader K M Mani, who died here Tuesday, had been a dominant player in Kerala's coalition politics for over four decades, serving under six Chief Ministers. Mani, a successful practitioner of pragmatic politics, had handled key portfolios like finance for most Congress-led UDF governments, which came to power alternatively since the late 1970s. He also had brief stint as a minister in the CPI(M)-led LDF ministry in early 1980s. A man of wit and humour, Mani, who was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1965 from Pala constituency of Kottayam district, never lost an election and continued to represent the constituency till his death. He held several key portfolios, including Home Affairs, Finance and Law, Irrigation and law, Revenue and Law in various ministries headed by stalwarts in Kerala politics including C Achutha Menon, P K Vasudevan Nair, K Karunakaran, E K Nayanar, A K Antony and Oommen Chandy. Mani had been a ...
GFP demands relaxation of noise rules for religious festivals
The Goa Forward Party has written a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking relaxation of the Noise Pollution Rules during traditional religious activities. Goa Deputy Chief Minister and GFP chief Vijai Sardesai said in the letter that ECI's flying squads had stopped Shigmo festival celebrations recently, and the same should not happen during the ongoing Lent season observed by Christians. "Traditional religious activities have attracted action under the Noise Pollution Rules, especially after 10 pm from the flying squads....Hence, there is apprehension that religious activities during the Lent Season and Easter Vigil Services will also attract similar action," he said. All traditional religious activities be exempted from these restrictions, he demanded, saying they did not hinder the election process.
Congress took away Bal Thackeray's voting rights: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday slammed the Congress for 'taking away' Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's voting rights over two decades ago. Thackeray was banned from exercising his franchise in the late nineties for six years after he was found indulging in "corrupt practice by seeking votes in the name of religion" at a public rally. Modi referred to Uddhav Thackeray, son of late Bal Thackeray, as his "younger brother". He also lauded the Sena founder for not occupying the chief minister's post and not propping Uddhav in that post either. Parties like the Congress who encourage dynastic rule should learn from Balasahab (on this aspect), he said. "It was the Congress which took away Balasaheb Thackeray's citizenship (voting) rights," he said. Bal Thackeray had voted in 2004, after a gap of eight years. The ban period had expired in December 2001. Thackeray, in an election campaign meeting for Sena candidate Ramesh Prabhu, had allegedly sought votes from the people ..
AiR's Latest Book Will Help People Live Life Without Fear, Worry and Anxiety
/ -- 'The Mind is a Rascal Kill Your Mind before Your Mind Kills You' One always thinks that their mind is the king and that it should be treasured. One will, however, be shocked to realize that the mind they hold in such esteem is actually their own enemy. The third book from AiR - Atman in Ravi - is designed to discover the truth about the 'Rascal Mind'. This new book is an exciting journey to discover the mind. The author has shared his understanding of the 'Mind' through his own personal experience. This book will help people live a blissful life by making them realize that it is their own mind that is holding them back. Talking about his new book, AiR says, "We humans would never accept the fact that it is our mind that stops us from realizing the truth. But it is true. The mind is a rascal. It is a thief. It is a monkey in our head that makes us live a life of illusion. It is this trickster that holds us back from going on a quest and realizing the Truth about life." This book
Rajnath Singh terms Mayawati's call to Muslims to vote in a particular manner as "unfortunate"
Days after BSP supremo Mayawati appealed to Muslim community to vote for the BSP-SP alliance and not for the Congress, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that politics should not be done on the basis of "caste, creed and religion"."It is very unfortunate (what Mayawati said). Politics should not be done on the basis of Hindu-Muslim. Politics should not be done on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Our (BJP) politics is not on the basis of caste, creed and religion. It is on the basis of justice and humanity. We never say only Hindu should vote for us and not Muslims or vice versa. In a healthy democracy, you can't even imagine this," Rajnath told ANI in an exclusive interview here.Addressing a public rally at Deoband on Sunday, Mayawati had said: "I appeal to Muslims that the Congress is not capable of defeating the BJP. Only the alliance parties are capable of doing it. Congress does not want the alliance to win. I appeal to Muslims that vote for alliance only. Do
Exempt religious events from pollution norms, EC urged
Goa should be exempt from noise pollution rules so that the residents can observe religious events, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Tuesday urged the Chief Election Commissioner.