Source: Religion News Service WASHINGTON, DC, December 22, 2000: The “Return to Home” legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton on Thursday, December 21. A coalition of religious groups collaborated so that Medicare patients suffering from severe illnesses could be treated at care facilities close to home or those affiliated with their faith. Previously, loved ones were…
GO TO SOURCE KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 24, 2000: Nepal, the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, will begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance to its “living Goddesses,” chosen girls worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. The living Goddesses, all referred to as “Sri Kumari,” are revered by thousands in Nepal. In accordance with Nepali tradition, a young girl is carefully chosen to serve…
GO TO SOURCE IPOH, MALAYSIA, December 25, 2000: The descendants of Marimuthu Ammal created history by holding the largest Indian family gathering, with some 480 relatives from peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore and New Zealand turning up. They comprised a third of about 1,200 descendants of the matriarch, who first came to Malaysia in the 19th century. The oldest in the…
Source: Religion News Service WASHINGTON, DC, December 22, 2000: The “Return to Home” legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton on Thursday, December 21. A coalition of religious groups collaborated so that Medicare patients suffering from severe illnesses could be treated at care facilities close to home or those affiliated with their faith. Previously, loved ones were…
GO TO SOURCE KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 24, 2000: Nepal, the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, will begin paying a monthly maintenance allowance to its “living Goddesses,” chosen girls worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. The living Goddesses, all referred to as “Sri Kumari,” are revered by thousands in Nepal. In accordance with Nepali tradition, a young girl is carefully chosen to serve…
GO TO SOURCE BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, October 25, 2000: Yoga was recently introduced at both the primary and high school level as part of the gym curriculum in Slovakia. Swami Maheswarananda’s “Yoga in Daily Life” organization worked for years to implement the program, which was welcomed by school officials and students alike. However, Catholic leaders have objected to this form of…
A HREF=”http://live.altavista.com/scripts/editorial.dll?ei=2341627ern=y”GO TO SOURCE/A/P P GANDHINAGAR, INDIA, December 21, 2000: Christian religious conversions by enticement or force has segmented the tribal communities in Gujarat. As a result, the State Reserve Police has been called upon to restrain any violence that may be targeted against the Christian community during Christmas celebrations. Meetings between Hindu and Christian groups have attempted to curb…
GO TO SOURCE LUCKNOW, INDIA, December 20, 2000: In a colorful ceremony, Priyanka Chopra,18, was crowned Miss World in London, England, in November of this year. However, upon arrival in her home state of Uttar Pradesh, no reception was given. Chief minister Rajnath Singh, supported by both Hindu and Muslim conservative, banned beauty contests in the state last week, declaring…
Source: Reuters MUMBAI, INDIA, December 21, 2000: An international animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said it planned to urge some Middle Eastern countries to boycott meat from an Indian abattoir (slaughter house) because of its unhygienic and inhumane conditions. They will present a video of the conditions in the Deonar abattoir in the city…
GO TO SOURCE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA: December 21, 2000: The Catholic news service Zenit out of Rome reported that Hindu radicals in India murdered a Catholic priest. A group of men raided the residence of Port Blair priest John Peter December 15 and killed him with knives and clubs, and left behind materials denouncing the priest’s activities in converting Hindus,…