Page 119 - Religion Belief
Kerala Nun Rape: Vatican removes Bishop Mulakkal
Senior Catholic priest, Franco Mulakkal, has been temporarily relieved of his pastoral duties by Pope Francis.A statement issued by the Apostolic Nunciature, the representative of the Holy Sea in India, stated that "The Holy Father has received the request of Rt. Rev. Bishop Franco Mulakkal to be temporarily relieved of his pastoral responsibilities in the Diocese of Jullundur. Having considered all circumstances the Holy Father has accepted this request of Bishop Mulakkal."The move comes days after the Bishop, who allegedly raped a nun, wrote to the Pope, the highest authority in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, expressing his desire to 'temporarily step aside' from the responsibilities of the diocese, allowing him time to fight his case and repeated travels to Kerala, where the case is lodged.The statement from the Nunciature added that Titular bishop of Molicunza and Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Bombay, Agnelo Rufino Gracias will stand for Bishop Malakkal in the latter's ...
Mayawati criticises RSS chief's Ram Temple statement
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's assertion that a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya will help end tension among Hindus and Muslims drew flak from BSP chief Mayawati who Thursday claimed that a "narrow" mindset was not conducive for cordial relations. Mayawati also criticised the Centre over bringing an ordinance to ban instant Triple Talaq saying a 'sensitive' issue was being used for selfish politics. "We do not agree with the RSS chief's logic that a grand temple in Ayodhya will help end tensions between Hindus and Muslims...Relations between narrow, Sanghi Hindus and Muslims will not improve even if many temples come up instead of one," the BSP chief said in a party release here. Attacking the RSS, Mayawati said "Their basic mindset is against Dalits, Muslims and the minorities and this is the reason why the BJP, which has originated from them, has adopted policies that are tarnishing democracy of the country". The former UP chief minister said the first thing the RSS needs to do is to change ..
When elections come, RSS remembers Ram temple: Cong
A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat strongly pitched for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya at "the earliest", the Congress on Thursday said such statements were bound to be made as elections were approaching. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, while responding to questions on the RSS's three-day lectures series that ended on Wednesday, asserted that the DNA of an organisation or a person cannot be changed. Asked about Bhagwat's remarks that a Ram temple in Ayodhya should be constructed at "the earliest" and it will end tensions between Hindus and Muslims, he said, "When elections come, they remember the Ram mandir." Tewari also claimed that if a time line is drawn of statements made by the BJP and RSS leadership on the Ram temple from 1986-2018, one will find that they were made when an election was near. The views of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Article 370 and Ram temple may not have changed, but its views on Article 377 have, Tewari said, in an apparent jibe at ...
This Chhattisgarh temple opens only for 12 hours in a year
Located at Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district, Mata Lingeshwara Temple is unlike any other temple of the country. What makes this temple unique is the fact that it opens for the devotees only for 12 hours in a year.A large number of devotees from across the state throng to the shrine to take the blessings of the deity. The temple is located at the top of a giant stone and devotees had to crawl to enter the temple."We have heard a lot about the temple. So even I came here to make a wish for a child," said one of the devotees, Abhijeet Mehata Indoor.The district administration also beefs up the security arrangement in the area as the temple is located in the Naxal-affected area.
Pope temporarily relieves Bishop Mulakkal of pastoral duties
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was questioned by Kerala police for the second day over rape charges by a nun, has been temporarily relieved of his pastoral responsibilities by Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) said Thursday. The Pope appointed Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bombay Agnelo Rufino Gracias as the Apostolic administrator of the diocese of Jalandhar with immediate effect, a CBCI statement said. The announcement came even as the senior Catholic priest is being questioned by the Special Investigation Team for the second day here Thursday. The Pope took the decision in response to Mulakkal's September 16 letter offering to "step aside temporarily" as the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, Kerala Catholic Bishops Council Spokesman Fr Varghese Vallikkattu told PTI. He wrote the letter after Kerala police summoned him to appear before it for questioning in the case. Bishop Mulakkal has been accused of repeated rape by the Kerala-based nun of ...
Muslim clerics, leaders call for unarmed Muharram processions
Several Muslim clerics and leaders in West Bengal have appealed to the community to refrain from carrying arms during Muharram processions. Maulana Mohammed Shafique Qasmi, the Imam of Nakhoda Masjid, which is the principal mosque of the city, Thursday said he has appealed to the people of the community to refrain from taking out processions during Muharram on Friday as it is against the tenets of Islam. "It is not merely about armed processions. We have appealed that processions should not be taken out as it is against the laws of Islam. No where in our Islamic laws is there the mention of taking out armed processions during Muharram," Maulana Qasmi told PTI. Maulana Rizvi of the Shia community echoed him on carrying arms but expressed a different opinion on taking out processions during Muharram. "We take out processions because it is the time of mourning. We express our sorrow when we take out the processions. But we (Shia) are not in favour of carrying arms during Muharram ...
Goa: Maulanas recite Quran to invoke blessings for Parrikar
Maulanas from across Goa Thursday held a "Quran Khawani" here for the speedy recovery of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Parrikar (62) is admitted at the old private ward under Dr Pramod Garg, professor of gastroenterology, and is under observation. According to hospital sources, the Goa chief minister had undergone a series of tests at the premier health institute. "We invited ten maulanas from different parts of Goa to the BJP state headquarters where they performed Quran Khawani for one hour and dua (pleading) for half an hour invoking Allah's blessings for Parrikar's recovery," Sheikh Jinah, president, BJPs State Minority Morcha told PTI. Jinah said that Parrikar has helped the Muslim community in the state in various ways including aiding educational institutions and providing support to construct the Haj House. He said that, recently, when Goa was falling short of the mandatory number
Quran reading at Goa BJP office held for Parrikar's recovery
Ten maulanas from various mosques in Goa conducted Quran Khawani, a ritualistic reading of the Quran, for quick recovery of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, an official said on Thursday.
Questioning of Bishop accused of raping nun continues for 2nd day
A special investigation team, probing the rape case of a nun by a Roman Catholic bishop, Thursday resumed his interrogation. Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of repeated rape and sexual assault by the nun, Thursday appeared before the Kerala police for his interrogation. The Jalandhar bishop of the Roman Catholic church, grilled by the special investigation team for seven hours Wednesday, was asked to appear before the team again at the crime branch office Thrippunithura at 11 am. Mulakkal, who had recently relinquished his administrative responsibilities as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, joined the probe at around 11 am at the crime branch office. Before resuming the interrogation, Kottayam Superintendent of Police Hari Sankar said about 50 per cent of the questioning was over and the process is expected to be completed by Thursday evening. The effort is to reach a conclusion after solving the contradictions in the statements, he said. The police had earlier .
Rape accused Bishop being questioned for second day
Catholic priest of Jalanadhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, who allegedly raped a Kerala nun, appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala police for the second day on Thursday.The senior priest arrived at the Crime Branch (CID) office in Thrippunithura and is being quizzed by a five-member team headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police, K Subhash, over the nun's allegations.The senior priest has denied the rape allegations and assured full co-operation in the probe.On Wednesday, the Bishop, who travelled from Jalandhar to Kochi after being summoned by Kerala police, was questioned for seven hours.Bishop Mulakkal filed for anticipatory bail in Kerala High Court on Tuesday, which was deferred by the court to September 25.He also wrote to Pope Francis, the highest authority in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, expressing his desire to 'temporarily step aside' from the responsibilities of the diocese, allowing him time to fight his case and repeated travels to ..
Nun rape: Bishop questioning restarts on Day 2
The Kerala Police on Thursday began questioning Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of raping a nun for the second consecutive day.
AIMIM leader hits out at RSS chief
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi Wednesday said the statements of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat that 'Hindutva' was an inclusive concept were just an attempt to win some "respectability." There is huge difference betweenHinduism and "Hindutva", Asaduddin claimed alleging "Hindutva" was "exclusive and not inclusive." Reacting to Bhagwat's comment saying "Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean there's no place for Muslims, Hindutva is Indianess and inclusiveness," the AIMIM chief said "I challenge Mohan Bhagwat to reject what(M S) Golwalkarhas written in his book Bunch of Thoughts and to reject(V D) Savarkar'stheory of Hindutva," Owaisi said. Bhagwat, on the second day of the "Bhavishya Ka Bharat-an RSS Perspective" event at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, had said "Hindutva" was an inclusive concept and did not exclude Muslims. He also maintained that his organisation embraced the Constitution, and respected the "socialist, secular" parts of its ...
'No communication on extradition of Christian Michel from UAE'
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday stated that the investigation agency has not received any communication yet regarding the extradition of Christian Michel, the British middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scandal, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities."CBI has not received any communication yet regarding Christian Michel extradition from UAE authorities," a CBI spokesperson said.According to media reports, a Dubai court had ordered for the extradition of Michel in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP choppers deal case.Michel hit the headlines after his name surfaced in the scam which took place during the United Progressive Alliance second regime.Michel is considered to be the key person who mediated payment of bribes to politicians and bureaucrats. An Interpol red corner notice has already been issued against him.
Ram Mandir should be built at the earliest: Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that Ram Mandir should be built "at the earliest" in Ayodhya which would remove a major cause of discord of between Hindus and Muslims.
Kerala Police questions rape-accused bishop for 7 hours
Kerala Police on Wednesday questioned Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of raping a nun for seven hours and asked him to report back on Thursday morning, said a police official.
Protest against bishop enters 12th day, demands his arrest
It is devoid of any big stage or the cacaphony associated with most agitations, yet the 12-day old protest by Catholic reformist forums and some nuns demanding action against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing rape charges by a nun, here is intensifying each day. Vanchi Sqaure, the protest venue, in the heart of the city and near the Kerala High Court is alive with steady stream of people from different walks of life including activists, common man and regular church goers dropping in to express their solidarity. As 54-year old bishop Franco appeared before police investigating the case in Thrippunithura near here Wednesday, the protesters expressed hope their demand for justice will be met and he would be arrested. A sister of the survivor nun, on a hunger strike, was hospitalised Wednesday after her health deteriorated even as a march was taken out to the office of Inspector General of Police here seeking the arrest of the Bishop. The Kerala-based nun has accused
Bahai community seeks immediate release of over 20 members wrongly convicted by Yemen court
An association representing the Bahai community has urged international fora to help them secure immediate release of its over 20 members convicted by a court in Yemen. On September 15, more than 20 members of the Bahai community, including all of its national-level leaders, were indicted during a court hearing in the Houthi-controlled Sana'a. They have been falsely accused of espionage and apostasy under various "absurd pretexts", a statement issued by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of India said. The charges are extremely alarming and mark a severe intensification of pressure at a time when the community is already being threatened and the general humanitarian crisis in the country requires urgent attention, said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Bahai international community to the United Nations. She said: "We have every reason to be concerned about the safety of the Bahai community in Yemen. We urge the international community to call upon the authorities
Rape accused Jalandhar bishop appears before SIT
Senior Catholic priest Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who allegedly raped a nun, appeared for questioning before a special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala police here.A five-member team headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash is quizzing the Bishop at the Crime Branch (CID) office in Tripunthara over the nun's allegations.This is the second time that the prelate has appeared before the cops, the first being on August 15 at his house in Jalandhar when the cops questioned him for nine hours.On Tuesday, he filed for anticipatory bail in Kerala High Court, which was postponed by the court to September 25.The Bishop also wrote to Pope Francis, expressing his desire to 'temporarily step aside' from the responsibilities of the diocese.The alleged victim nun had also appealed to the Vatican for justice, following which the highest seat of authority in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy formed a one-member panel to probe the rape allegations against the priest.She
Nun rape case: Jalandhar bishop appears before Kerala SIT for questioning
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, appeared for questioning before the special investigation team of the Kerala police in Thrippunithura near here Wednesday, police sources said. News channels aired visuals of the Jalandhar bishop arriving at the crime branch office in a private car at 10.55 am, five minutes before he was scheduled to appear. The 54-year-old bishop will be interrogated by SIT head K Subhash, police sources said. Ernakulam range IG Vijay Sakhare reviewed the progress in the probe with Kottayam district police chief Hari Sankar and investigation officer Subhash, who is also deputy superintendent of police of Vaikom in Kottayam before commencing the interrogation Wednesday morning. The nun has accused the senior Catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The clergyman filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Kerala High Court Tuesday, claiming that allegations against him were a "cooked up story to wreak vengeance" for ...
Kerala Police questions bishop accused of raping nun
The Kerala Police on Wednesday started questioning Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of raping a nun, as a top police officer said there is no restriction on his arrest.