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Nithyananda Swami: Hindu Holy Man Denies Sex Tape
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“A Hindu holy man in India has denied any wrongdoing, days after video emerged apparently showing him engaging in sexual acts with two women.
A spokesman for Nithyananda Swami said he was at the Kumbh Mela festival and would soon ‘clear the air’.” [Link]
Scientology Defectors Claim Church Abuse
“Fifty-six years after its founding by the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986, the church is fighting off calls by former members for a Reformation. The defectors say Sea Org members were repeatedly beaten by the church’s chairman, David Miscavige, often during planning meetings; pressured to have abortions; forced to work without sleep on little pay; and held incommunicado if they wanted to leave. The church says the defectors are lying.” [Link]
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Pope Prays For Chile Earthquake Victims
“Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday urged the survivors of Chile’s devastating quake to be courageous and asked the Catholic church to play a role in relief efforts.” [Link]
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Mother Mary MacKillop Named First Australian Saint
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“Australian Catholics are jubilant over Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that Mother Mary MacKillop has become the nation’s first saint, The Age newspaper reports. But, the Australian newspaper notes, church leaders are not quite sure how to celebrate in services this weekend, since it’s never happened before.” [Link]
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Malaysian Women Caned For Extramarital Sex Under Sharia Law
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“Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the sentences were carried out on February 9 after a religious court found them guilty of having sex out of wedlock. Two of the women were whipped six times.” [Link]
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Anne Hathaway Quit Catholic Church For Gay Brother
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“Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway tells GQ magazine she and her parents have left the Catholic Church because of the religion’s views on gay issues. Hathaway, whose brother is gay, says she and her parents became Episcopalians shortly after he came out.” [Link]
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Book: Pope John Paul II Whipped Himself
“Pope John Paul II, whose world travels helped modernize the papacy, sometimes practiced ancient rituals of self-flagellation, including hitting himself with a belt that he kept in his closet, according to a new book. The Polish pope would also sleep at times on the hard floor of his Vatican palace and muss up the bed to avoid drawing attention to his ascetic efforts at piety. The practice is intended to remind people of the suffering of Jesus on the cross.” Link
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Pope Benedict To Visit Rome Synagogue
“Pope Benedict is due to make an historic visit to Rome’s synagogue – only the second time a Pope has made such a trip. Pope Benedict’s visit is aimed at cementing sometimes fractious relations between Catholicism and Judaism.” Link
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French To Ban Muslim Dress In Public
“France, which regards itself as the cradle of human rights, is moving to impose legal restrictions on Muslim women who wear Afghan-style burqas or other full-face veils. The restrictions, likely to apply to many public places, come in response to resentment in France and other European countries over the growing visibility of Muslims — immigrants or locally born — on a continent with ancient Christian roots.” Link
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Church Wants Vuvuzela Trumpet Ban At South Africa World Cup
“Members of a traditional South African religion say they have begun legal action to stop a controversial plastic trumpet, locally known as the vuvuzela, being played at this year’s World Cup. Football’s governing body Fifa has given their backing to the vuvuzela but there have been widespread complaints that the incessant noise is both irritating and a distraction to players and spectators during matches.” Link
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