Page 36 - Religion Belief
Anglicans pray for unity in Brexit chaos
With Britain's political world in chaos over Brexit, Christians across the country this weekend took part in special prayer sessions hoping for some divine help in healing bitter Brexit divisions. "It doesn't matter whether you voted leave or remain, we're still one humanity, one nation," Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, told AFP after imploring his congregation to heal the rift. The Church of England has promoted the initiative as "tea and prayer drop-ins" -- combining two of its most well-known sources of comfort. Despite a sharp decline in church attendance, Cottrell believes faith still has the power to unite the country after Brexit. "It's no good the church standing on the sidelines, waving our hands saying 'why doesn't everybody just love each other', what we've got to do is show what that love looks like in action," he said. Worshipper Angela Sadler, 65, said the church needed to play a larger role in helping resolve the broader issues surrounding the crisis. "It's ...
Pope, Morocco king say Jerusalem 'common patrimony' of 3 religions
Pope Francis and Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Saturday declared Jerusalem the "common patrimony of humanity and especially the followers of the three monotheistic religions," during the pontiff's visit to Rabat. "The specific multi-religious character, the spiritual dimension and the particular cultural identity of Jerusalem... must be protected and promoted," they said in a joint statement released by the Vatican.
Heavy exchange of fire at LoC in Poonch district
Heavy firing exchanges started between Indian and Pakistani armies at the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
BJP objects to Digvijaya giving money to beggars at temple
The BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission Saturday against Digvijaya Singh, Congress candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, after a video purportedly showing him giving money to beggars went viral. The video, shot outside the famous Chintaman Ganesha temple in Sehore, showed the Congress veteran handing out Rs 20 notes to a couple of women beggars. Madhya Pradesh BJP vice president Vijesh Lunawat alleged that Singh and other Congress leaders were flouting the Model Code of Conduct. "A party delegation filed a complaint against Singh ...he distributed money to voters to influence them, as seen in a video," Lunawat said. Distribution of money outside a temple by a candidate is violation of the Representation of the People Act, he claimed. Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja pooh-poohed the complaint. "BJP made a complaint against Digvijaya Singh for doing charity outside a temple. Only those who do not believe in charity and religious work can do this. It ...
HPSC bans Sikhs from wearing symbols of faith in exams; SAD seeks withdrawal of order
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday requested Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ask the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) to "immediately rescind a notification banning Sikh candidates from wearing the symbol of their faith while giving the State civil services examination."Badal said that the Haryana Public Service Commission has allegedly come out with an order that no candidate will be allowed to carry religious symbols in the examination centre. The examination is slated to be held on Sunday.Badal said that religious symbols including the 'Kada, Kangha, and Sri Sahib' were an 'inalienable' part of the Sikh religion and no Sikh should be asked to part with the same during any examination."The Haryana Public Service Commission is expected to be aware of this considering the large population of Sikhs in Haryana. It should be directed not to disrespect the Sikh community and hurt its sentiments by passing such arbitrary and uncalled for orders," said ...
SGPC passes annual budget of Rs 1,205 crore
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), a religious body which manages the functioning of Sikh shrines and educational institutes under it, Saturday passed an annual budget of Rs 1,205 crore for the financial year 2019-2020. The annual budget was passed under the supervision of SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, said the committee's general secretary Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala. He said the budget has provisioned Rs 700 crore for Gurudwara management, Rs 37.40 crore for education institutions and Rs 84 crore for religious promotion.
Those who didn't bow before Ram Lalla won't get Ram bhakts' votes: Irani
Union minister Smriti Irani said Saturday those who do not have the courage to bow before Ram Lalla in Ayodhya would not be able get the votes of the devout followers of Lord Ram. Irani's comments come a day after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra prayed at the popular Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya, but kept away from the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site. "See the politics of these people. They went to Ayodhya, but did not bow before Ram Lalla (infant Ram).... Those who do not have the courage to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla for fear of vote-bank (politics) will not be able to get the votes of the Ram 'bhakts' (devout followers)," Irani said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district. "On polling day, Ram 'bhakts' will go to the polling booths and cast their votes for development," the textiles minister said. In an apparent attack on Vadra's recent boat rides on the Ganga, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said those who ...
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna "illegal" as per Sharia: Islamic jurists
A section of Islamic jurists (muftis) have passed a resolution saying the government's Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna (SSY) is "illegal" under Sharia as interest is accrued as part of the scheme. The resolution on the small savings scheme for girl child was passed in a three-day conference organised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind earlier this week, said Azeemullah Siddiqi, the media-incharge of the organisation. Siddiqi said that the SSY is based on interest and therefore, it is illegal according to Islamic Sharia. According to the resolution, under the scheme, a bank account is opened in the name of a girl, who is less than ten years of age, by her parents who deposit money in it. "The bank annually increases the amount by aiding annual interest up to nine percent . It is because that this scheme involves interest, it is clearly un-Islamic," the resolution read. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 as a part of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, to enable parents of
Royalty? My family ended princely privileges: Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has slammed the BJP for equating the Gandhi family with royalty and pointed out that it was her grandmother Indira Gandhi who abolished the privileges of princely families.
'Staines' on the human heart (Review)
Film: 'The Least Of These: The Graham Staines Story'; Starring: Sharman Joshi, Stephen Baldwin; Director: Aneesh Daniels; Rating: ****(4 stars)
China city offers cash for information in religion crackdown
A southern Chinese city is offering cash rewards for information about "illegal religious groups" as the ruling Communist Party continues to tighten its grip over faith communities. A notice posted on the official website of the Guangzhou Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs said up to 10,000 yuan (USD 15,000) would be paid for verified information and assistance in hunting down key members and leaders of illegal foreign religious groups and revealing their structures. The department said smaller rewards would be offered for reports about religious venues set up without permission and behaviour encouraging "religious extremism." "The meaning of this document is to protect the lawful, prevent the illegal, contain extremism, resist infiltration and crack down on crimes," the department said in commentary on the incentives. Under President Xi Jinping, the officially atheistic ruling party has sought to eliminate all religious expression not under its direct control, especially by ..
US Supreme Court stays execution of Buddhist inmate
The US Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a Buddhist inmate in Texas whose request that his spiritual adviser be present in the execution chamber was denied.
Pope seeks to build on Muslim outreach with Morocco trip
Pope Francis is forging ahead with promoting moderate Islam during a weekend trip to Morocco, seeking to build on warming ties with the Sunni world while also ministering to a tiny Catholic community and offering solidarity with migrants. For the 82-year-old pope, the 27-hour, whirlwind visit to Rabat, the Moroccan capital, will be a welcome reboot to a year that has otherwise been dominated by the global Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal and the downfall of three of his cardinals. The trip comes after Francis' February visit to the United Arab Emirates, where the pope and the imam of Cairo's Al Azhar, the seat of Sunni learning, signed a landmark joint statement establishing the relationship between Catholics and Muslims as brothers, with a common mission to promote peace.
India seeks Pakistan's clarification on Kartarpur corridor
India on Friday expressed concern and sought clarification from Pakistan on reports that some controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur corridor.
Quebec moves to ban religious symbols in public service
Canada's Quebec province on Thursday unveiled controversial draft legislation that would ban a significant section of public servants from wearing religious symbols such as a crucifix, yarmulke or hijab. The measure -- which applies to police, teachers and others in positions of authority -- is expected to become law by June with Premier Francois Legault's government holding a majority of seats in the Quebec legislature. But it was swiftly panned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said:"For me, it's unthinkable (that) a free society would legitimize discrimination against anyone based on religion." Montreal mayor Valerie Plante voiced "serious concern about the message that this bill sends to minorities about their fundamental rights." The important thing, she said, was that the process of making laws was secular, not that people divested themselves of religious attire and symbols. Teachers unions said they would not enforce the law, while pundits and the government's own lawyers, ..
AFC head Sheikh Salman to be re-elected unopposed
Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa was on Thursday assured of his re-election as head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after his only remaining challenger withdrew from the contest. Qatari Saoud al-Mohannadi pulled-out of the vote and backed the Bahraini, according to a statement from the Qatar Football Association. "The Qatari Football Association announces its support for Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa for a new term as head of the AFC," read the statement. A third candidate, Mohamed Khalfan al-Romaithi from the United Arab Emirates, had already dropped out of the running. The re-election will go ahead early next month and means Sheikh Salman, who in 2016 unsuccessfully stood against Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential elections, will now head the AFC for at least a decade. He was first elected in 2013, and he will serve a fresh four-year-term from next month. Notably the QFA statement said Sheikh Salman was in Qatar for talks with Mohannadi. Since 2017, ...
Mamata charges BJP with using Lord Ram's name to win polls
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday accused the BJP of playing the religion card and using Lord Ram's name to win elections, though it failed to build the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said she never used religion to win polls but respects all irrespective of their faith or caste. "You (the BJP) use religion for elections. You contest elections using the name of (Lord) Ram but could not build one Ram Mandir in five years," she said while addressing a programme organised by the Marwari community here. "We do not use religion to win elections. We are with everybody - Ram or Rahim, Sikh or Christian," Banerjee said. Referring to the Income Tax notices sent to about 40 big-budget Durga Puja committees in the city, she said no community was obstructed in holding religions celebrations in West Bengal. The chief minister claimed that people from other states like UP or Bihar feel "safer" in West Bengal compared to their ...
'Misleading' tweet on indelible ink brought down following EC's intervention; police register FIR
Delhi Police have registered a case in connection with a tweet questioning ingredients of the indelible ink used to mark voters and having the potential of creating confusion in the minds of people following a complaint from the Election Commission. Earlier, Twitter had removed the tweet. On Tuesday, the commission wrote to Twitter saying its team has identified a "mischievous" and "misleading" "fake news" which should immediately be brought down. After the post was brought down by the social media platform, the poll panel asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district to investigate the case and lodge an FIR under IPC Section 505 which deals with creating "fear" and "alarm" among the people. In a letter to the police, the EC said the tweet "appears deliberately intended to cause mischief and mislead the voters, specially belonging to a particular community". An FIR was registered on Wednesday against unnamed persons under sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, ...
UNHRC should look into the kidnapping of Hindu girls in Pakistan: VHP
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Thursday called for the attention of United Nations human rights body UNHRC on the alleged kidnapping of Hindu girls in Pakistan and forcible conversion into Islam, and said they should be handed back to their families. The three Hindu girls, who were kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam, should be released and handed over to their families immediately, VHP's secretary general Milind Parande said in a statement. Raising the issue of persistent civil rights violations of Hindus in Pakistan, the "VHP called for the attention of the neighbouring country's government, its judiciary and the world community including UNHRC, to stop them forthwith". Many NGO's and national and international rights groups have estimated that more than 1,000 Hindu girls and women are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam annually in Pakistan, the VHP claimed. Underlining that Hindus have been and are still being persecuted in Pakistan, the outfit said when Pakistan came .
Palimar mutt chief names successor
Swami Vidyadheesha Teertha of Palimar mutt, one of the 'Ashta (eight) mutts' of Udupi, has chosen Shailesh Upadhyaya, a student of Yogadeepika Gurukula at Palimar, as his successor and junior pontiff. Shailesh, 20, is the eldest son of Surendra Upadhyaya, a priest and Lakshmi Upadhyaya. His younger brother is studying for an Ayurveda course in Manipal. Disclosing the information to the media on Wednesday, Vidyadheesha Teertha said Shailesh was selected after getting the consent of his parents. He will be offered 'sanyasa deeksha' (initiation into the monastic order) in a ceremony to be held at Sri Krishna mutt from May 9 to 12. The Swami said he is set to perform the rituals of ordaining the disciple during his current tenure as the 'Paryaya' (title for the Swami in charge of worship and rituals at Udupi) seer. Vidyadheesha Teertha, 63, said a junior is being inducted into the mutts tradition as a disciple is needed to run the mutts administration. Shailesh studied up to