Religion in the Daily News

• Looper column: America’s other religion (and it is not Islam) 16 January 2021 7 h 00 min Bedford Now - Michigan Columns share an author’s personal perspective. ***** According to Pew Research Center, 70% of Americans identify as Christian. This includes evangelical Protestants, who make up the largest bloc in American Christendom, along with Catholics, mainline …
• Religious leaders tasked on dangers of corruption 16 January 2021 6 h 57 min Realnews Magazine RELIGIOUS leaders in the country have been urged to sensitise their followers to the dangers posed by corruption for a better society. Dr Abudulmumini Isah of the MacArthur Foundation, gave the charge at a Town Hall meeting of some religious bodies on “ …
• Advancing religious freedom abroad starts at home 16 January 2021 4 h 36 min Religion News Service A protester holds up a sign that reads "No Muslim Ban Ever" as he protests against the Supreme Court ruling upholding President Trump's travel ban outside the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (RNS) …
• 700,000 Hindus gather for India religious festival despite Covid 'breeding ground' fears 16 January 2021 3 h 08 min CNN (CNN) — Every year, tens of millions of Hindu pilgrims wade into the Ganges River, seeking salvation from the eternal cycle of life and death. Holy men lead prayers and offer blessings, and devotees wash their sins away in the sacred waters. But this year, …
• Undeterred by the pandemic, Hindu pilgrims gather in India. 16 January 2021 0 h 06 min The New York Times As India prepares to begin an ambitious coronavirus vaccination program this weekend, more than 700,000 Hindu pilgrims gathered to take a dip in the Ganges River on Thursday, the start of the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world …
• Liberia: Liberia Council of Churches Describes Recent Failed Referendum as Waste of Taxpayers, Donors Monies - Front Page Africa 15 January 2021 21 h 50 min Liberian Times MONROVIA – The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), through its President, Bishop Kortu K. Brown, has termed as a waste of taxpayers’ and donors’ monies the outcome of the recent national referendum conducted in Liberia by the National Elections Commission ( …
• Albanian temples in previously occupied Azerbaijani lands transformed into Armenian Gregorian churches 15 January 2021 18 h 33 min Azer News 15 January 2021 13:10 (UTC+04:00) 504 By Trend Armenia has carried out a specific policy against Azerbaijan’s historical, religious and cultural monuments, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for the Work with Religious Organizations Gunduz …
• Greatest religious gathering on Earth goes ahead in India with 700,000 Hindus attending despite raging pandemic 15 January 2021 14 h 13 min The Independent Up to 700,000 Hindu devotees have gathered along the banks of the River Ganges at Haridwar in India, marking the beginning of world’s largest religious congregation – the Kumbh Mela – amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  Unlike in a normal year, the …
• Pakistan Fires 12 Police Officers Who Failed to Prevent Demolition of Hindu Temple 15 January 2021 12 h 54 min Voice of America ISLAMABAD - Authorities in northwestern Pakistan have removed 12 police officers from service and penalized 45 others for not preventing an Islamist mob from setting ablaze and destroying a minority Hindu temple.    On December 30, about 2,000 activists of …
• Pakistan fires 12 police officers for not protecting Hindu temple 15 January 2021 12 h 52 min Al Jazeera Policemen fired over acts of ‘cowardice, irresponsibility and negligence’ for not trying to stop the mob as it attacked the temple in Karak district. Pakistani authorities have sacked a local police chief and 11 other policemen for failing to protect a …
• Holi in Multan 15 January 2021 3 h 23 min The News International The Pakistan Hindu Council, while ensuring preparations to organize the annual combined marriages ceremony for deserving Hindu couples, faced various hurdles and uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is a matter of great honor and prestige …
• Government asks religious congregations to contribute to mother and baby redress fund 15 January 2021 2 h 35 min Irish Times The two main churches in Ireland and the religious congregations that ran the mother and baby homes have been asked to make a contribution to the intended redress fund for former residents and survivors. Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has written …
• Shifting sands: TDP and BJP’s search for a “Hindu” vote against YSCRP primes AP politics for a new divide   14 January 2021 23 h 37 min Times of India Andhra Pradesh politics is on the cusp of a decisive change with the rightward shift by its former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. A combination of national, regional and local dynamics is catalysing this politics of religious identity. BJP’s dominance …
• Sudanese Coptic say facing restrictions to build new churches 14 January 2021 15 h 33 min Sudan Tribune January 13, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudan’s Coptic Church official said they are still facing difficulties to get permission for the construction of new churches despite the regime change in Sudan in April 2019. The International Christian Concern released a …
• Religious conversion isn’t a charitable endeavour 14 January 2021 14 h 35 min National Secular Society Some registered charities exist primarily to convert members of one religion to another. Megan Manson says such activity is harmful to community cohesion – and shouldn't be treated as a valid charitable purpose. In the UK's increasingly diverse …
• DSS uncovers plots to attack churches, mosques in Lagos, Kano, others 14 January 2021 1 h 21 min The Citizen (Nigeria) The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday said it has uncovered plots incite religious violence in Lagos, Kano, Sokoto and some other States in the country. Head, Public Relations Officer, DSS, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, said the services …
• Coerper selected for fellowship 14 January 2021 1 h 04 min Eagle News Online - New York Kip Coerper joins GreenFaith’s International Fellowship Program GreenFaith recently announced that Kip Coerper,, coordinator for EarthWorks Ecoministry at St. James’ Church, Skaneateles,, has been named a GreenFaith Fellow and will join the 2021 Class of …
• Open Doors’ 2021 watch list highlights impact of COVID-19 on religious persecution worldwide 13 January 2021 22 h 41 min Religion News Service (RNS) — The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a number of existing problems: political divides, inequities, conspiracy theories. It also has exposed religious persecution in a number of countries, according to Open Doors. In India, the Christian watchdog …
• What drives ‘J-Anon’, QAnon's Japanese counterpart? 13 January 2021 21 h 08 min Global Voices Highly-organized pro-Trump demonstrations have been taking place in some of Japan's largest cities as a part of a thriving “J-Anon” (QAnon in Japan) movement. In a series of tweets, Jeffrey Hall, a scholar specializing in right-wing politics who …
• I am ready to apologise if shown where l insulted Islam – Bishop Kukah 13 January 2021 18 h 41 min Nigerian Eye   The Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah says he is ready to apologise if he is shown any part of his Christmas sermon that insulted Islam.   Kukah was reacting to a statement by the Islamic groups JNI, who alleges that he bit the …
• Kukah didn’t attack Islam, he can’t apologise or leave Sokoto – Fani-Kayode 13 January 2021 17 h 29 min PM News Fani-Kayode and Kukah Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode on Wednesday said the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah owed no one apology as he never attacked Islam. Fani-Kayode was reacting comments made by a group of Muslim scholars and clerics in Sokoto …
• Kukah Did Not Attack Islam, He has Nothing To Apologise For, Fani-Kayode Replies Northern Group 13 January 2021 17 h 03 min Sahara Reporters Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has faulted the call by a group that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, should leave the state, following the latter’s Christmas message. An Islamic group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto, …
• Obscure, but Jan. 16 is Religious Freedom Day 13 January 2021 10 h 45 min The Pathway - Missouri One of the greatest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the attacks on religious liberty. In too many instances political leaders have used public safety as an excuse – and ultimately a weapon – against churches services and faith-based gatherings. …
• China deemed a top religious freedom concern in 2021 13 January 2021 7 h 39 min Catholic News Agency Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 13, 2021 / 12:13 am MT (CNA).- China remains a primary human rights concern in 2021, a federal religious freedom commissioner told CNA this week. “China remains of utmost concern to USCIRF,” said Nadine Maenza, …
• How self-proclaimed ‘prophets’ from a growing Christian movement provided religious motivation for the Jan. 6 events at the US Capitol 13 January 2021 5 h 21 min Religion News Service (The Conversation) — In addition to symbols of white supremacy, many of the rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6 carried signs bearing religious messages, such as “Jesus Saves” and “In God We Trust” while others chanted “Jesus is my savior and Trump is my …
• UK hails India's religious diversity, inclusive tradition in Parliament debate 12 January 2021 19 h 26 min The New Indian Express By PTI LONDON: The UK government on Tuesday praised India's religious diversity and its "rich tapestry of religious minorities alongside its sizable Hindu majority" during a debate in the House of Commons complex and highlighted the important …
• Myanmar President confers honorary title on four Sri Lankan Buddhist monks 12 January 2021 14 h 49 min Adaderana The President of Myanmar U Win Myint has decided to confer the honorary religious title of “Aggamahāpaṇḍita” on four Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and several other honorary titles on three Buddhists Priests and one Layman from Sri Lanka, in honor of the 73rd …
• Czech churches condemn those wearing yellow Stars of David at anti-vaxxer events, call on them to apologize 12 January 2021 10 h 26 min Romea.cz Several dozen people assembled on 8 January 2020 on Wenceslas Square in Prague for a protest march. Those attending wanted to express support for outgoing US President Donald Trump and to commemorate the recent death of former Slovak Police President Milan …
• Act against illegal loudspeakers at religious places, says HC 12 January 2021 6 h 29 min The Hindu The High Court of Karnataka on Monday directed the State government to immediately issue directions to the police and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to initiate action on use of amplifiers and loudspeakers in religious places in the …
• Kerala battle turns tricky due to political and religious climate 12 January 2021 3 h 04 min Economic Times New Delhi: Politics in Kerala has acquired a pre-poll suspense, quite unknown to the southern state’s cycle of voting out the incumbents. The local body elections on the eve of the April-May assembly polls produced a tricky political-religious-communal …
• Hindu shrine desecration: Can Pakistan protect its religious minorities? 12 January 2021 1 h 10 min BBC Waseem Khatak, a researcher, teacher and journalist from the village, said the area had a large Hindu population which was mainly involved in trade, business and money-lending, and Hindus and Muslims lived side by side in a collective culture.
• Two Busan churches ordered to shut down for violating in-person worship ban 11 January 2021 15 h 40 min Korea Herald Two churchgoers holding signs calling for in-person worship services to be allowed at churches. (Yonhap) Two churches in the southeastern port city of Busan have been ordered to shut down after repeatedly holding in-person worship services in violation of …
• Extremists may take advantage of new anti-money laundering regulations for religious organizations - State Duma committee 11 January 2021 14 h 38 min Interfax Religion News 11 January 2021, 17:00Extremists may take advantage of new anti-money laundering regulations for religious organizations - State Duma committee Moscow, January 11, Interfax - The State Duma Financial Markets Committee has supported a bill that gives …
• Mayor Duterte sees no need to tweak COVID-19 protocol in churches 11 January 2021 11 h 32 min Minda News DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 January) – The existing measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in churches in Davao City “is already sufficient,” Mayor Sara Duterte said Monday. She made the …
• Kanimozhi: ‘Our culture is different. They (BJP) can’t create fear of other religions here. It won’t work in TN polls’ 11 January 2021 0 h 25 min The Indian Express The DMK leader talks about fighting polls without Karunanidhi, says DMK is at forefront of fighting BJP’s polarising tactics in TN, claims Rajinikanth would not have been a factor, and rules out any tension with the Congress over seat-sharing talks. The …
• FLP: LACK OF RESPECT FOR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT HINDU TEMPLE. WE need more clarification. What were the priests objecting to? (a) That they were forced to open to Yasa evacuees or (b) Evacuees cooking Meat 10 January 2021 19 h 44 min Fiji Leaks   Lack of respect for religious rights Mr Mahendra Chaudhry also raised issue with the shocking lack of respect shown by the authorities to the religious sensitivities of a community in Delaivuna, Taveuni. A Hindu temple was forced to open its doors to …
• Churches should close, says former WHO director 10 January 2021 14 h 11 min Christian Today (Photo: Unsplash/Jonathan Chng) The former director of WHO has said that all places of worship should close as the UK struggles with a surge in coronavirus cases. Anthony Costello, also a University College London (UCL) professor of global health and …
• District-level committee formed to uphold religious harmony 10 January 2021 13 h 42 min The Hindu A committee has been formed at the district-level to protect and uphold religious harmony and peace. The committee, to be headed by the District Collector as Chairman, has representatives of seven different religions. The committee will strive to initiate …
• Muralists have work in dozens of churches across 13 states 10 January 2021 8 h 45 min The Washington Times PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - No matter how intricate the art or meaningful the message, Andrew Hattermann says his studio’s work comes down to one simple thing: Beauty. “We try to make a church more beautiful than it’s ever been,” the Peorian says. “That’s our goal …
• The truth about Jehovah Wanyonyi's 'religious sect' 10 January 2021 6 h 55 min The Standard Jehovah Wanyonyi [Photo: Courtesy] Jehovah Wanyonyi’s sickness and ‘disappearance’ greeted the pages and sites of all media houses. Both locally and internationally. The digital social media was not been left behind in covering the ‘mysterious …