Halloween is a holy day

With all the hullabaloo over Halloween many forget that Oct. 31 is also Protestant Reformation Day. On this day in 1517, a monk named Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses (Disputatio pro declaratione virtutis indulgentiarum) on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. In his theses, Luther displayed his displeasure with what he felt was clergy abuse in the selling indulgences to the poor. Luther felt the sale of indulgences was a violation of the sacrament of confession and penance, and that sinners they could find absolution through the purchase of indulgences - an indulgence being like "time off for good behavior in a sentence" for a sin - was false. Contrition for sin should be genuine, not bought or sold. Ultimately, his act led to a split in the Catholic Church.

Religion in America recalibrates

A new study by the University of Chicago shows private religious practices such as prayer are on the rise in a kind of recalibration, or redefining, of what it means to be religious in America. There is also an increase in the number of people who believe in an afterlife and greater tolerance for those who question or shun religion. The report also revealed a weakening of weekly attendance of religious services. 73% believe in an afterlife; 59% pray daily; 26% attend traditional services.

Sacred Mayan site discovered

An ancient sacred island is home to a Mayan site that archeologists estimate to date to around 250 A.D. The island is now submerged in a Guatemalan lake and is resting some 50 feet below the water's surface. The site was only discovered 12 years ago by a diver. So far, 6 ceremonial monuments and 4 altars have been found along with the ruins of small houses crammed full of religious items confirming its significance.

Work is worship ethic encouraged

Basaveshwara, an Indian mystic (1106-1167), believed work is worship and fought against the practice of caste system in India while championing a firm belief in a universal concept of God and envisioning a society that flourished enriching one and all. Many great yogis and mystics of the time joined his movement enriching it with the essence of divine experience in the form of Vachanas (sacred hymns in Kannada) that define a new way of looking at God and life. Father D’Silva of Infant Jesus Church in Shimoga, India, urged the people to follow those principles when he inaugurated the Sammelan on Friday, an event which serves to support the view that all religions can coexist in harmony.

Pastor run down in run over case

Former pastor, Randall Foos, of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Kennewick, Washington has been arrested in connection with killing a 19-year-old girl with his car in 2003. The young woman was riding her bike when his vehicle ran into the back of it. Foos was arrested in Clark County, Nevada. He had failed to appear in court after losing his latest appeal in the homicide conviction.

Pastor popped for prostitution

New Evangelical Church minister Raymond Sams, 52, was busted by by police in a prostitution roundup. Sams, who is the Chicago church's Youth Pastor, Associate Minister, Assistant Superintendent, Elder and heads the prison ministry has now found himself on the wrong side of the law after soliciting a prostitute who turned out to be a police officer working in a covert capacity.

Grave crisis in London may need double-deckers

London faces a grave crisis. In a city that has been inhabited for 2,000 years, the idea of double-decker burials is an option for some cemeteries since space is an ever-increasing premium. Britain is already a crowded island and the challenge to find room for the departed with so many of the living has already led to having one of the world's highest cremation rates. In much of the country it is illegal to reuse a grave.

Pastor warns of occult in Ghana

Senior pastor, Rev. Francis Osei, of the Christ Missions International Church in Ghana is encouraging fellow pastors to warn youth of the dangers of occultism. He says the nation can ill afford to see the younger generation fall into potential psychiatric problems as a result of engaging in esoteric rituals. Osei proposes churches make visits to schools to provide counseling to encourage responsibility and discourage immorality.

Religious statue to be restored

Christ the Reedemer, the 78 year-old statue with outstretched arms that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, is slated for major restoration. Catholic Archbishop, Ornani Tempesta, estimates the renovations will take 4-6 months. The statue was designed by Brazilian engineer, Heitor da Silva Costa, and sculpted by French sculptor of Polish origin, Paul Landowski. Small brooches of the statute will be sold at all of Rio's 252 parishes to help pay for the work. Vale, a Brazilian mining firm, will also bear some of the expense.

Marriage ceremonies help Indian poor

8,000 couples, including 878 tribal couples from the Koya and Konda Reddy tribes, were wed under a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) sponsored program. Churches and temples were the venues for the mass marriages. Many of the weddings were performed at four halls in the temple town of Bhadrachalam, India, a Hindu site for pilgrimages. The State government sponsored `mangala sutras’ for the Hindu couples and rings for their Christian counterparts. A feast was arranged with government funds for the couples and their relatives after the marriage ceremonies were concluded.

Former pastor charge with torture and sex crimes

152 charges have been brought against the former pastor of the Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Andalusia, Alabama. Ralph Lee Aaron, a 54-year-old, is alleged to have sexually abused and tortured young boys on various camping trips. Pornographic images were also found on the man's computer, some possibly of his victims. He is being held on a $24.2 million bond in the Covington County Jail.

German Lutherans elect woman to head Church

German Lutherans have chosen Bishop Margot Kaessmann to head their church. Despite some controversy due to the facts that she is a woman and a divorcee, she also has a reputation as a supporter of closer dialogue between Catholics and Protestants and as a modernizer. The German Church says the election sends a signal to the Church worldwide that God calls us to leadership without consideration of gender, color or descent.

Estimated half-Billion abortions performed

The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice reproductive think tank, has published a 10 year survey which found there had been a drop in the world abortion rate from 45.5 million abortions in 1995 to 41.6 million abortions in 2003. No matter what side of the abortion issue one may stand, the fact is that the equivalent of the entire population of the United States, Canada and Mexico was aborted during that 10 year period.

Episcopal Bishop to be present for Hate Bill signing

Washington, DC. USA - The Episcopal Bishop of Wyoming, Rt. Rev. Bruce Caldwell, will be present at the signing of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act by Pres. Obama today. The legislation was spurred in part by the murder of a University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard, who was admittedly gay. Confusion still exists as to the true motives of the two men convicted of the murder, though many hold it was a hate crime against a homosexual.

Stinking garbage taints temple

Calcutta, India - A stinking garbage vat continues to make it foul presence known despite repeated pleas from the leaders of a Buddhist temple located in the heart of Calcutta. The open garbage vat was located in the temple's backyard by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, only a few feet from the 117-year old temple building, its secondary school and a healthcare unit for the poor. The mayor says it’s wrong to have a vat near a place of worship or a school, but has done nothing about it. 

Nobel prize winner to speak at Buddhist symposium

Washington, DC. USA - Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Jeffrey Boutwell is an expert on such matters as matters of nuclear armament, international security, ethics and preventing deadly conflict. He will be one in a series of distinguished speakers to present at the SGI-USA Buddhist Cultural Center in Washington, DC. as part of the Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series. East-coast Buddhists hope this will be a landmark event in the ongoing quest for world peace and nuclear disarmament.

Baptist youth minister skips court date on sexual assault

A Bridgeport, Conn. church youth advisor, charged with assaulting a 16-year-old girl he was counseling about sexual abstinence last May, has skipped out on his court date. The victim was a member of the People Learning Under God group according to Deputy Police Chief Michael Harry. 31 year-old youth pastor, Vernitt Hoheb, gave the victim a ride home after a PLUG meeting and drove to a deserted back parking lot of a fitness gym where he assaulted the girl. The court has ordered the former youth minister of the Mt. Aery Baptist Church to be rearrested.

Church of Scientology convicted in France

The Church of Scientology has been convicted of fraud by a French court. The church's leader was given a two-year suspended sentence and fined 30,000 euros in a case centering around a woman's claim she was mentally manipulated into donating a large sum of money to the the organization. France refuses to recognize the church as a religion and classifies it as a sect.

Religious repression list of top offenders

In a new survey, 8 countries have been noted to be of special concern due to their limits on religious freedom. Those countries are North Korea, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Eritrea. The rankings are a result of indications of government repression or restrictions in regards to limitations or bans to the practice of faith by the country's population.

Astrophysicist ignores Pope

Astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, quoted the late Pope John Paul II as saying, "It's OK to study the universe and where it began. But we should not inquire into the beginning itself because that was the moment of creation and the work of God." Hawking said the Pope made the comment at a Vatican-sponsored cosmology conference where Hawking has just presented a paper on the origins of the universe.

Man mad over spirits' departure

Pastor Simon Abekai is alleged to have led a team of seven other church members in storming a witchdoctor's home. The police in Kumi, Uganda, are holding the group and plan to charge them with tresspass. The victim, Tukei Okuni, says the preacher and his group came to his home while he was away. He returned to find them saying prayers and singing which drove his mayembe (spirits) away, which has resulted in serious financial loss. The pastor said his group was chasing away demons that disturb area residents.

Global South Bishops decline Pope's offer

The Global South group of conservative bishops, which claims to represent 35 million Anglicans, has declined Pope Benedict's invitation to join the Roman Catholic Church. Urging fellow believers to reform the Anglican Communion and to stand firm in cherishing Anglican heritage. There have been deep divisions over the issue of gay clergy and liberal reforms in the church. The consecration of a gay Episcopal bishop in 2003 sparked off a crisis that has shaken the Anglican Communion ever since.

Pastor put out with potheads in parking lot

Pastor Jim Misiuk of Calvary Chapel Lake Forest in Lake Forest, Ca. is put out with teens playing loud music and partying with pot in the church parking lot. The problem has increased since a medical marijuana dispensary moved to the neighborhood. Police have been called a number of times. Church members have also taken the issues to the City Council citing that when the teens are asked to go they become belligerent.

When confronted, the teens say they are waiting for friends who are getting product at nearby Earth Cann Wellness Center. Church member, Edward Smith, told the City Council that it appears to be easy to obtain a medical marijuana card. Smith said, "I have four children aged 19 to 12. All my children know how to get a medical marijuana card. I feel bad for people with Cancer and AIDS but this clinic is being abused. Lots of people are partying down there."

Jamaican artistes see concerts cancelled

Jamaica's dancehall fraternity has seen a number of its events cancelled due to pressure by the gay community because some of the artistes have been critical of the homosexual lifestyle. A number of church leaders have come out in support of the performers while condemning the actions of international gay rights groups that are responsible for the immense pressure causing the concert cancellations.

When the gays took their lifestyle into the public domain they opened themselves for criticisms according to Pastor Bobby Wilmot of the Joy Town Community Development Founda-tion. 

Bishop Delford Davis of the Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore said his message to the DJs would be to continue to spread the message that a lifestyle of homosexuality is immoral and wrong.

For whom the bells toll

Climate change is for what the bells toll - in churches across Massachusetts. The plan is to ring bells 350 times, the number that represents the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide parts per million in the earth's atmosphere. Other planned events include compact fluorescent light bulb distribution at an Episcopal church and a sustainably-grown dinner at a Unitarian church.

Atheists persuasive in debate

Ignoring the long history of charitable and social work done over the centuries by the Catholic Church and figures from St. Francis to Mother Theresa, two atheists spoke convincingly to a crowd at a public debate in London in an attempt to convince listeners that the Church maltreated children and that priests were sexually dysfunctional. 

A vote at the debate's conclusion held 1,876 for the atheists and 268 for the participating Nigerian Archbishop, Onaiyekan.

New Jersey priest murdered

One day after police held a public safety seminar at St. Parick's Church in Chatham, New Jersey, a priest was found slain in the Church's rectory. The body of the Rev. Ed Hinds was found and had wounds consistent with a homicide. The day preceding the discovery, police sponsored an event in which they photographed and fingerprinted children for their protection. 

The priest, in his clerical robes, was stabbed 32 times in the rectory kitchen where he had been brewing a cup of coffee. Father Hinds' body was discovered after he failed to appear for the morning mass. A janitor has been arrested and charged with the murder.

Archbishop's treasure discovered

A treasure composed of coins, goblets, rare medallions  have been found at the bottom of the River Wear where it loops around Durham Cathedral. Originally collected by Michael Ramsey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury who died in 1988. The discovery of over 300 artifacts has been specifically linked to Ramsey due to specific items known to have belonged to him, including a gold coin known to have been given to the Archbishop by a Japanese Buddhist leader. Officials speculate the items may have been stolen from Ramsey.

Video evangelism a growing movement

Nearly 27,000 people attend 13 campuses scattered from Arizona to New York, for religious services. The ministry itself is headquartered in Edmond, Okla., and is the second-largest Protestant church in the United States. LifeChurch is a multisite church using satellite technology to beam its services to various location. Although TV evangelism has been around for some time, this new wave of ministering includes meeting places for the faithful to gather.

Orthodox Christian Leader visits US

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, arrived in New Orleans on Tuesday to preside over the eighth Religion, Science and the Environment Symposium. he is also slated to visit New York, Georgia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. over the course of his trip and is scheduled to meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Catholic Church aids flood victims

The Catholic Church of the Mangalore Diocese has sent relief supplies to the flood-affected areas in northern Karnataka. Two truckloads of food, bedding, utensils, kerosene stoves, fuel and school books for students have been dispatched to help area victims. Karnataka is on the southwestern coast of India and is bordered on the west by the Arabian sea.

Hondurans turn to patron Saint for help

In a country racked with a major political crisis, many Hondurans are turning to their patron Saint, Our Lady of Suyapa, in hopes of getting back on track. In 1986, a religious icon of the Saint was grabbed from its sanctuary in a church, but was later left in a men's room at a restaurant. A little shrine commemorates its return. Originally, in 1747, a peasant bedded down at the side of a road woke to find the wooden statue jabbing him in the ribs.

Copt killed over son's actions

A Christian (Copt) man paid a steep price in southern Egypt for accusations his son was having an affair with a Muslim girl. He was shot to death while walking through his village of Attaleen. The murder was spurred on by rumors that alleged the man's son had taken intimate pictures of his girlfriend and distributed them by cell phone and CD.

New Episcopal Bishop in Pittsburg, PA

Kenneth Price Jr. has been elected to be the provisional Bishop for the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Episcopal Diocese. "The Diocese of Pittsburgh has a rich history, and we're going to build on that history so that the gospel can continue to be preached, people can continue to be brought to Jesus Christ," Price says.

The happiest man

Matthieu Richard has been given the distinction of being the happiest person tested by a group of American neuroscientists. Matthieu, a Tibetan Buddhist monk and French cellular geneticist, lives in Nepal and is an associate of the Dalai Lama. He says happiness is a deep and lasting sense of fulfillment achieved through emotional control and concern over the well-being of others.

Comic book artist stirs controversy

Robert Crumb, a comic book artist best known for the "Cheap Thrills" album cover for Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin) and his Mr. Natural character in Zap comics, has created a Book of Genesis which features gratuitous displays of violence and sexually explicit depictions. It has been condemned by many religious groups. Crumb does not believe the Bible is the Word of God and takes it as a myth.

Mormon prayer houses attacked

"Stop spreading your lies, pagans," read typed notes attached to rocks that vandals threw at windows of 5 Mormon church meeting houses in the Salt Lake City suburb of South Jordan. A number of windows were broken. 

Lt. Don Hutson of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department said, "We do believe this is clearly a hate crime, as opposed to standard vandalism, and we will be contacting federal authorities."

Graham's son travels to North Korea

The Rev. Billy Graham's son, Franklin, is on his 3rd trip to North Korea. He will oversee the delivery of $190,000 in equipment to outfit a dental school that can train up to 70 dentists per year. He also plans to meet with high-level government officials and to inspect medical facilities that the Samaritan's Purse has installed. 

Following this visit, Franklin will travel to China where he will visit a city devastated by last year's earthquake, speak at various churches and dedicate a clinic that Samaritan's Purse has built.

Mother Theresa will remain in India

Mother Theresa's remains will stay in India despite a demand by the Albanian government to return them. She was born in Skopje in 1910 (now Macedonia) and left her birthpace in her teens for Ireland. In 1929, Mother Theresa landed in India to teach at a girls' convent in Darjeeling. She achieved Indian citizenship in 1951. She is at rest in Kolkata (Calcutta). 

“Mother Teresa was an Indian citizen and she is resting in her own country, her own land,” said a foreign ministry spokesman in New Delhi.

Vandals wreck havoc on church fundraiser

Fellowship Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, had their fund-raising pumpkin patch destroyed by vandals. The church has sold its pumpkins over the last 10 years to raise money for programs to help the needy. The money is also used to help members of an Indian tribe who grow the pumpkins. Losses are estimated at $1,000.00. The pumpkins appear to have been attacked by a golf club.

Study on Muslim populations

Russia has more Muslims than Jordan and Libya put together; Germany has more Muslims than Lebanon; China has more Muslims than Syria and nearly one in four people worldwide is Muslim according to a new study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Researchers spent 3 years analyzing data from 232 countries and territories. There are about 2.25 billion Christians and 1.57 billion Muslims in the world. Roughly 9 of 10 Muslims worldwide are Sunni, according to the report.

Veil controversy continues

"Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies," says the Koran. This has left room for wide-ranging interpretations - one of which is the niquab (also known as a burqa), an all-encompassing veil. In Egypt, a ban would apply to all areas at Al-Azhar University ruled an all-male committee. This has prompted demonstrations by female students determined to continue wearing the veil.

Mass marriage ceremony performed

Tens of thousands of couples have been married in a mass ceremony performed by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Some were new unions while other couples renewed their vows. Over 20,000 gathered at the Sun Moon University south of Seoul in Korea. At least that many joined in concurrent ceremonies in Australia, Brazil and the US. The event was to also mark the religious leader's 90th birthday and 50th wedding anniversary.

Prisoners turning to meditation, yoga

There is no group tracking the number of prison inmates in the US turning to meditation and yoga but it is a growing movement. Inmates say meditation is teaching them how to cope in prison as they follow Buddhist principles on truth, responsibility and suffering. Programs and workshops educating prisoners about Zen, meditation and yoga are sprouting up across the country. "Prison Chaplaincy Guidelines for Zen Buddhism" and "Razor-Wire Dharma: A Buddhist Life in Prison" are just two of the books dealing with the growing movement.

Catholic priest seized by gunman

10.12.09 - Father Michael Sinnott, an elderly Catholic priest (78), was seized at gunpoint in Pagadian City, on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. The priest was seized by the gunmen, loaded into a minivan then transferred to a boat. No one has yet claimed responsibility, but authorities note that Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group, is known to be operating in the region. A friend said the priest was active in interfaith projects.

Two die at spiritual retreat

A middle-aged man and woman have died while 19 others were taken to a hospital from a spiritual retreat in Arizona after being overcome in a sweatbox. Two of those who went to the hospital are listed as being in critical condition. Half a dozen others were discharged after making a quick recovery. A total of 64 participants had spent almost 2 hours before problems developed. The 70-acre retreat is located outside the town of Sedona.

Sweat lodges have been used for centuries by Native American cultures in certain rituals. These ceremonial saunas use steam generated by pouring water on fire-heated rocks brought inside an enclosed space, usually a dome of some sorts. 

Authorities are investigating for pre-existing medical conditions or other problems. So far, experts have found no contaminants, hazardous materials or carbon monoxide in the retreat's dome - a frame covered with tarps and blankets.

The spiritual resort offers a range of treatments and activities. Massage, colon cleansing and vortex experiences are some of the featured activities, along with hiking and swimming. The Angel Valley Spiritual Retreat Center promotes itself as a natural environment for self discovery and healing through a holistic approach aimed at balancing the mind, emotions, body and spirit. It is built on former ranch property in the high-desert and red-rock country of northern Arizona.  

Fears of religious suppression in Vietnam

Now that Vietnam has been included in the WTO and the US State Dept. has removed it from the region blacklist, many fear the governing Communist regime is reverting to its old ways of religious suppression. Catholic activists have been jailed and, at the end of September, 150 monks were forced out of their Zen monastery (Bat Nha) by police. 200 nuns left on their own. 

Father Huynh Cong Minh from the Archdiocese of Saigon says that ''like it or not, the Catholics in the world are organised and that is what the communist government fears the most."

Pastor tries exotic coffee

Pastor Bob Hennagin, of Saint Hiary's Episcopal Church in Fort Meyers, Florida, has made news by his encounter with a beverage. "I had a chance to drink a cup of the rarest coffee in the world. It is called Kopi Luwak but we call it cat poop coffee. The coffee beans are eaten by a Indonesian cat who then expells (poops) the beans out," said Pastor Hennigan, "Some poor guy has to pick the beans out and clean them up. They're roasted fresh at the cafe. It was a really good cup of coffee. It cost $20 for a cup, so this was a once in a lifetime chance." His experience landed him an on-air interview with MSNBC and the Today Show. "20 years of ministry and my first national exposure is because I drank coffee eaten and pooped out by an Indonesian cat," quipped Father Bob.

Tribal ways to be taught in Taiwan

One of 14 aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, the Paiwan, have started a class to train young people in their traditional skills of witchcraft. Witches, or mediums, are important members of the tribe and practitioners of rituals used to treat diseases, to nurture crops, to protect their fellow tribal members from evil and to bring blessings on the community. The lessons will provide instructions on how to seek guidance from the gods and how to communicate with the souls of ancestors who have passed on.

Fears that ancient traditions will be lost forever prompted the classes. Conversions to other religions by a younger generation has also endangered the older customs and ways according to tribal elders, now in their 70's and 80's. Before a student is accepted, there must be evidence of a bloodline to shamans or witches or to be descended from village chiefs.

World Animal Day saw a blessing of horses

World Animal Day (10.4) saw a number of celebrations around the globe but in Leeds, England, two police horses from West Yorkshire were blessed by a Buddhist nun. Touching each horse gently with a holy object, the nun circled the horses with a stupa - an object which represents the mind of the Buddha. Many Buddhists identify with the compassion for animals St. Francis was known for. St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, was a Roman Catholic saint who took the gospel literally by following all Jesus said and did. Christians everywhere celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 by having their pets blessed in the spirit of this patron saint of animals and ecology.

Researchers discover a mini-Stonhenge

"Bluehenge" has been discovered by researchers from Sheffield University a mile away from the famed Stonehenge. The 5,000 year old site has been named for the blue hue of the spotted dolerite stones (igneous rock harder than granite). The rocks were originally mined in the Preseli mountains and transported 200 miles to the site on the banks of the river Avon. A series of holes indicate where the stones once stood. Further details will be published next February (2010).

Tibetan spiritual leader set to visit Washington, DC

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, will spend a week in Washington D.C. meeting with lawmakers according to the US State Department co-ordinator for Tibet, Maria Otero, but will not meet with Obama until after the President's Bejing visit scheduled for November. The Dalai Lama has been traveling around North America over the past month giving spiritual teachings.

US Supreme Court declines to hear parish property dispute

The US Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving a dispute from the St. James Anglican Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles over who owns a California church and its property. St. James's was one parish that voted to split from the national church after the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire. California courts have ruled that, while St. James had the right to split off from the larger church, the congregation could not take parish property with it.

Egyptian Muslim leader to issue edict on women's veils

Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi, Egypt's highest Muslim authority, said the niquab (full-face veiling) a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith when he was visiting a girls' school in Cairo over the weekend. He said it was merely a tradition, with no connection to religion or the Koran and will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women's veils. 

Church of England sees decrease in attendance

A Church of England study published earlier this year showed a sharp decrease in attendance so churches across Wales are taking part in a campaign to encourage former attendees to return and non-members to start going. The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, believes those that have stopped going to services just need somebody to invite them back. Church attendance fell by 50,000 from 2002 and 2007 to 978,000.