Page 68 - Religion Belief
Lindsay Lohan goes nude for photo
The "Mean Girls" star Lindsay Lohan took to Instagram to share her nude photograph with her 7.1 million followers, but got slammed by some.
Marketing cannot restore church image after abuse crisis: pope
Pope Francis issued a warning to US bishops on Thursday, saying in a letter that using marketing tricks or flow charts would not restore trust in the Catholic church following the sex abuse crisis. "Loss of credibility calls for a specific approach, since it cannot be regained by issuing stern decrees or by simply creating new committees or improving flow charts, as if we were in charge of a department of human resources," Francis wrote. Attempts to restore the centuries-old institution's credibility must be based on rebuilding trust, he wrote, rather than "concern with marketing or strategizing to reclaim lost prestige or to seek accolades". The pontiff also warned against reducing the church's mission to the administration of an "evangelisation business". The US bishops were gathered at a Chicago-area seminary for a prayer summit in advance of a historic gathering that the pope has called for in February at the Vatican, to discuss the ongoing crisis roiling the church. A litany of ..
Injured Sabarimala Samithi worker died of cardiac arrest, Governor seeks urgent law and order report
Sabarimala Karma Samithi worker Chandran Unnithan, injured during a clash between BJP and CPI-M workers after two women in their 40s entered the hill shrine, has died of cardiac arrest, even as the Kerala Governor sought an urgent law and order report on the situation from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.Unnithan died of cardiac arrest at a hospital late on Wednesday night where he was admitted after being injured during a clash in Pandalam, the hospital said.In a death summary, released by the department of emergency medicine, the hospital said that the patient was 'intubated and ventilated upon arrival and was actively bleeding from right ear, nose and mouth.'After he went into cardiac arrest around 9:50 pm, the CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was initiated. After a long resuscitation process, not attaining results, the patient was declared clinically dead by the hospital.The Sabarimala Karma Samiti is an umbrella organisation of groups against the entry of women in the ...
Ayyappa devotees stage demos in Hyderabad on Sabarimala issue
Groups of devotees of Lord Ayyappa held demonstrations Thursday in different parts of the city in protest against the entry of two women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. Holding placards that read "Save Sabarimala", the protesting devotees took out a rally in Saidabad area here and squatted on the road. They raised slogans against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and later also burnt his effigy. Devotees accused the Kerala government of acting against the age-old traditions of Sabarimala and also against Hindus. Two women in their 40s created history Wednesday by stepping into the hallowed precincts guarded by police three months after the Supreme Court's judgment lifting the ban on entry of girls and women between 10 and 50 years into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, its "eternally celibate" deity.
Ayyappa devotees stage protests in Karnataka
: Devotees of Lord Ayyappa staged protests at several places across Karnataka Thursday against the entry of two women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple in neighbouring Kerala. Meeting under the banner of the 'Sabarimala Samrakshana Vedike' (Save Sabarimala Forum), the protesters demanded Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation over the incident. Bindu and Kanakadurga, both in their 40s, became the first women to enter the temple after the Supreme Court verdict early on Wednesday, resulting in violent protests across Kerala. The protesters pointed out that Vijayan was not only a party leader, but also the Chief Minister of a state and hence he should respect the religious sentiments of crores of Ayyappa devotees, because India is a democratic country. "Pinarayi Vijayan cannot bulldoze his way. There should be respect for crores of devotees who are visiting Sabarimala tooffer prayers," they added. Protests were also staged in Udupi, Mysuru, ...
PM Modi attacks Congress on 1984-anti Sikh riots issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and farmers' loan waiver issues. The Congress had made tall promises to farmers on loan waiver, but later deceived them, he said at a rally here. Modi said the Congress in Punjab, too, had made big promises to farmers, but deceived them after coming to power. The Congress is also awarding those involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots with chief minister's post, he said. "On one family's direction, the files of those involved in the riots were put under wraps, but the NDA dug out these and set up a SIT and results are before you," Modi said. He said theNDA government took a historic decision to build the Kartarpur Corridor, which will link Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev.
Paswan opposes ordinance on Ram temple, says SC judgement should be final
BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan Thursday opposed an ordinance on the Ram temple issue and asserted that the Supreme Court's decision on the matter should be final. "Whatever judgement the Supreme Court gives on the Ram temple issue should be accepted by everyone, be it Hindu, Muslim or any other community. Our stand has been consistent. When the PM said that we will wait for the SC judgement, then all ifs and buts should end," the Lok Janshakti Party president told reporters. Asked if he would support an ordinance on the issue, Paswan said his stand has been consistent and that he would not support it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said Tuesday that the government would not take any decision on the issue till the judicial process is over. Hindutva groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been demanding an ordinance to pave way for the temple's construction in Ayodhya. The LJP is the second major ally of the BJP to oppose an ordinance. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
PM's suggestion on Ram temple a matter of 'utmost concern': Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that a decision on an ordinance on the Ram temple in Ayodhya can happen only after the completion of the judicial process is a matter of "utmost concern". He also said the Sangh Parivar has been claiming that religious sites of minority communities such as that of the Babri Masjid belonged to Hindus. "At this point, the prime minister's statement causes utmost concern to the secular minds of the country. "His statement that an ordinance on the Ram temple will be considered after the Supreme Court verdict, should be read together.All these points fingers to the moves against secularism of the country," Vijayan told reporters here. The prime minister during a recent interview, broadcast by several TV channels, had said, "Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over." "After the judicial process is over, whatever be our ...
Mumbai ISKCON's 'Rath Yatra' festival starts from Saturday
Devotees of Lord Krishna will celebrate the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra 2019 chariot festival at Shivaji Park here on Saturday, organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Chowpatty, an official said on Thursday.
Head priest should've quit if he was not ready to accept SC verdict: Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Sabarimala head priest on Thursday for conducting purification rituals after two women entered the temple, saying he should have quit if he was not ready to accept the Supreme Court verdict. Vijayan's comments come a day after Kandararu Rajeevaru had closed the Lord Ayyappa temple and performed purification rituals after two women of menstruating age, Bindu (42) and Kanakadurga (44), offered prayers at the hill shrine early on Wednesday. "A strange thing happened at the Ayyappa temple yesterday. The 'tantri' (priest) closed the shrine and performed the purification rituals. This was violation of the SC verdict," Vijayan told reporters here. "The 'tantri' should have quit, if he had any objection to the apex court order as he was also a party to the case," he said. The court had also heard the priest, who was a party to the case, before delivering the verdict, the chief minister said. The priest had pointed out that there was a ...
Women who entered Sabarimala temple were Naxals: BJP leader
In what could spark a fresh controversy, BJP leader V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the two women who entered Sabarimala Temple on Wednesday were "Maoists".Speaking to ANI, the BJP leader said, "Yesterday two women entered Sabarimala Temple. They were not devotees. They were Maoists, Naxals. CPM with selected policemen prepared an action plan and then saw to it that the women go inside the temple. This is a planned conspiracy by Maoists in league with Kerala government , Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM against Hindu temple and devotees of Lord Ayyappa.""It is an open assault on the Hindu temples of Kerala. It is a black day not only for Kerala but the whole country," he added.On Wednesday, two women, Bindu and Kanakdurga, both in their late 40s, entered Sabarimala temple to offer prayers following which the state witnessed a string of violent protests. Protestors pelted stones, raised slogans and hurled abuses against each other.Following the women's entry, the Lord ...
Sabarimala Karma Samithi worker injured in clash dies
A Sabarimala Karma Samithi worker, who was injured in Wednesday's clash, has succumbed to the injuries.55-year-old Chandran Unnithan sustained injuries on his head during the clash between BJP and CPM workers in Pandalam over the women's entry into Sabarimala temple on Wednesday.Unnithan, who was allegedly injured in stone pelting, was rushed to a hospital but could not be saved. An investigation into the matter is underway.A clash erupted between the BJP and the CPM workers in front of the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram over the entry of two women of menstrual age group into Sabarimala temple on Wednesday morning. Protesters also pelted stones, raised slogans and hurled abuses against each other.In the early hours on Wednesday, Bindu and Kanakadurga, who are in their 40s, had entered the hill shrine and offered prayers, following which the temple was shut for an hour for 'purification' rituals.The Supreme Court lifted the traditional ban on the entry of women of menstrual ...
US clergy abuse survivors demand inclusion in Vatican reforms
Patricia Gallagher Marchant was first abused by a priest who befriended her family when she was seven or eight years old. More than five decades later, the 61-year-old stood Wednesday in front of a throng of news cameras outside the downtown Chicago headquarters of the Catholic archdiocese in this sprawling American city, and demanded the church listen to survivors. "They've counted on our silence," Marchant said. "The horror of what happened to each of us needs to be out and spoken." Marchant was joined by leaders of two survivors' advocacy groups who sent an open letter to Pope Francis asking to be a part of a historic gathering that the Catholic leader called for in February at the Vatican, to discuss the ongoing crisis roiling the church. At issue was the very credibility of the Pope's conference, they claimed, and whether survivors would have faith in its outcome. "What we want is for this summit to be able to be taken seriously and to result in real, meaningful reform," said ...
Bhagwat pitches for Ram temple in Ayodhya
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat Wednesday asserted that only a Ram temple will be constructed in Ayodhya. His comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that any decision on an ordinance on the Ram temple could only be taken after the completion of the judicial process, but stressed that the Centre was ready to make all efforts to fulfil its responsibility. Earlier in the day, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Hindus could not wait "till eternity" for the court's decision on the Ram temple and asserted that the only way forward was to enact a legislation for its construction. Replying to a query on the Ram mandir issue with just a few months left for the Lok Sabha polls, the schedule of which will bring in force the Model Code of Conduct, Bhagwat said, "Only a temple will come up in Ayodhya." "We have faith in Lord Ram. It does not take time for time to change," he said. The RSS chief was speaking to the media after attending a programme .
Kerala govt has committed 'daylight rape' of Hindus: Union Minister Hegde
Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Wednesday said the Kerala government has totally failed to handle the Sabarimala temple row and has committed 'daylight rape' on the Hindu people."The Supreme Court has given the direction. I totally agree with that, but at the same time since law and order is a state subject, the state government should know how it has to be dealt with," said Hegde."The Kerala government had completely failed to manage it diplomatically without hurting the faith of the masses. It is a daylight rape on Hindu people," he said.His statement comes in the backdrop of two Kerala women, Bindu and Kanakadurga, in their 40s, entering the temple premises for offering prayers during early morning hours on Wednesday. They were accompanied by the police personnel.Bindu, while speaking to media, said, "Today morning at around 01:30 am, I and Kanakadurga started from Pamba and reached Sannidhanam by around 3:30 am and returned after the darshan. We went and returned along with ...
Hurriyat chairman purifies Jamia pulpit after IS-flag ruckus
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday led a protest march to the Jamia Masjid here against the desecration of the pulpit of the historic mosque last week. The Mirwaiz, who heads the Awami Action Committee, a constituent of the Hurriyat, led the march of his supporters from various walks of life from Rajouri Kadal and purified the pulpit where some unknown ISIS supporters had displayed the flag of the global terror outfit after Friday prayers on December 28. "Not only has the incident saddened the people of Kashmir, but there is growing demand for isolating these elements (ISIS supporters)," the Mirwaiz said, while addressing his supporters. He appealed to the people to beware of such divisive forces who are bent on creating sectarian divide in Kashmir. On Friday, group of youngsters, carrying ISIS flags, forcibly entered the Jamia Masjid and created a ruckus, evoking condemnation from the mosque's management committee and the separatists.
Rajasthan's only Muslim minister prays at Shiva temple
Shale Mohammad, the only Muslim face in Ashok Gehlot's cabinet, offered prayers at a Shiva temple in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer days after taking charge of the minority affairs department. Mohammad, son of Muslim religious leader Gazi Fakir, reached his constituency Pokhran in Jaisalmer on Sunday for the first time after becoming a minister. "Gods and goddesses don't belong to any caste. It is not about Hindus and Muslims. Everyone has his faith. We have Ganga-Jamuni brotherhood which is in itself an example. Hindus and Muslims both have strong faith in Baba Ramdev (a temple in Ramdevra of local deity Baba Ramdev)," Mohammad told reporters after performing puja. The minister said that he visited the temple due to his personal belief. Madhu Changani, priest of the temple, said Mohammad has a long association with the shrine and it was not the first time he performed puja. "He had visited this temple during state assembly election as well. It was not the first time he visited the temple. He .
US, Israel officially quit UNESCO
The United States and Israel have formally quitted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Tuesday.The Times of Israel reported that the move came following alleged allegations that the Paris-based organisation criticised Israel's policies of East Jerusalem's occupation and the grant of full-time membership to Palestine in defiance of the American and Israeli pressure."UNESCO is a body that continually rewrites history, including by erasing the Jewish connection to Jerusalem," Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon was quoted as saying."It is corrupted and manipulated by Israel's enemies, and continually singles out the only Jewish state for condemnation. We are not going to be a member of an organisation that deliberately acts against us," Danon added.Israel initiated the withdrawal process after the US declared to step out of UNESCO in 2017."We hope that the organization will change its ways but we are not pinning hopes on this; therefore,
Protests as two women pray at Sabarimala, Kerala shutdown called (Third Lead)
Protests erupted across Kerala on Wednesday after two women in the hitherto banned age group entered the Sabarimala temple before dawn, with the Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SMS) calling for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday.
US, Israel officially quit UNESCO
Israel initiated the withdrawal process after the US declared to step out of UNESCO in 2017