The Australian leader of the Opposition Liberal Party, Tony Abbott, has confessed that he finds the burqa "confronting," the Big News Network website reports today (August 31, 2013).
The burqa -- the enveloping outer garment worn by some Muslim women -- came under fire earlier this week by another Liberal candidate for the forthccoming election, Ray King.
While drawing a link between the burqa and criminality, King described the Islamic attire as a "sign of oppression."
Speaking to reporters while campaigning in Queensland, Tony Abbott defended King, saying: "Frankly, it's not the sort of attire that I would like to see widespread in our streets."
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Pope Ousts Cardinal in Effort to Enhance Admin.; Names Senior Vatican Diplomat His Sec. of State
Pope Francis today (August 31, 2013) appointed a senior Vatican diplomat as his new Secretary of State, ousting divisive cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as he looks to overhaul the Catholic Church's scandal-ridden administration, according to the Yahoo News website.
The pope's replacement for the "number two position" at the Vatican, Italian cleric Pietro Parolin, 58, is currently the Catholic Church's envoy to Venezuela and has worked on improving ties with communist China.
"The Holy Father has accepted ... the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone," the Vatican said in an announcement, adding that the changeover would formally take place on October 15.
Pope Francis has shown a strong reformist drive in his first few months in office and has set up a series of committees aimed at reforming the disgraceful Vatican hierarchy, its economic affairs, and its bank.
The pope's replacement for the "number two position" at the Vatican, Italian cleric Pietro Parolin, 58, is currently the Catholic Church's envoy to Venezuela and has worked on improving ties with communist China.
"The Holy Father has accepted ... the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone," the Vatican said in an announcement, adding that the changeover would formally take place on October 15.
Pope Francis has shown a strong reformist drive in his first few months in office and has set up a series of committees aimed at reforming the disgraceful Vatican hierarchy, its economic affairs, and its bank.
Friday, August 30, 2013
NJ Motor Vehicles Dept. Allows "ATHEIST" Plate; American Atheists Pres. Dave Silverman Wins Row
Every state's Department of Motor Vehicles routinely rejects applications for vanity license plates that are deemed offensive or in poor taste, but officials in New Jersey apparently didn't have the stomach for a high-volume fight over an application for an "ATHEIST" plate, the Charisma News website reports today (August 30, 2013).
New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) initially rejected the application from David Silverman -- president of the Cranford, New Jersey-based American Atheists -- as "objectionable."
When Silverman called the MVC to lodge a complaint, he was told the word is "offensive." A legal defense fund was set up and Silverman readied for battle, but on August 28, Silverman was told he could have the plate.
"'Atheist' is not an offensive or objectionable word any more than the word 'Jew' or 'Christian' or 'man' or 'woman' is," Silverman said. "The word is used on dog tags for the U.S. government. It is who and what I am."
New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) initially rejected the application from David Silverman -- president of the Cranford, New Jersey-based American Atheists -- as "objectionable."
When Silverman called the MVC to lodge a complaint, he was told the word is "offensive." A legal defense fund was set up and Silverman readied for battle, but on August 28, Silverman was told he could have the plate.
"'Atheist' is not an offensive or objectionable word any more than the word 'Jew' or 'Christian' or 'man' or 'woman' is," Silverman said. "The word is used on dog tags for the U.S. government. It is who and what I am."
Chief Justice Opens Israeli Courts Rosh Hashanah; Says Detaining Suspects for 3 Days "Unacceptable"
Israeli magistrate courts will continue to process arraignments over Rosh Hashanah this year, as a result of a special order by Supreme Court Chief Justice Asher Grunis, the Jewish Press website reports today (August 30, 2013).
This year, Rosh Hashanah -- the only 2-day Jewish holiday observed in Israel -- begins Wednesday night (September 4), which means that the state's non-emergency services will be suspended by law until Sunday morning.
This would result in suspects remaining in detention without an arraignment before a judge for three days, which the Chief Justice finds unacceptable. It also conveys a higher level of attention to defendants' rights than in the United States, where anyone arrested late on a Friday must wait behind bars for their arraignment until Monday -- or even until Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday.
The national court employees union said it objects to Grunis's Rosh Hashanah directive, but its members will not challenge it.
This year, Rosh Hashanah -- the only 2-day Jewish holiday observed in Israel -- begins Wednesday night (September 4), which means that the state's non-emergency services will be suspended by law until Sunday morning.
This would result in suspects remaining in detention without an arraignment before a judge for three days, which the Chief Justice finds unacceptable. It also conveys a higher level of attention to defendants' rights than in the United States, where anyone arrested late on a Friday must wait behind bars for their arraignment until Monday -- or even until Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday.
The national court employees union said it objects to Grunis's Rosh Hashanah directive, but its members will not challenge it.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
MA Church Robbed of "Everything But the Pews;" Springfield Church Member: "We'll Bring It Back"
A church in Springfield, Massachusetts has been robbed of everything from its organ to kitchen utensils, the UPI website reports today (August 29, 2013).
Investigators say the thief entered the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ last week using a key. Police Sgt. John Delaney said the theft occurred sometime between Tuesday and Thursday last week.
Bernadine Smith -- a member of the church for many years -- estimated the value of the stolen items at about $150,000. "The church was totally stripped, everything but the pews and a couple of chairs out of the pulpit," she said.
The church was founded 80 years ago in Springfield and has been in its current building since 1965. While it once had about 300 members, Smith said that the congregation -- like many inner-city churches -- has become smaller. She added, "We are going to bring it back."
Investigators say the thief entered the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ last week using a key. Police Sgt. John Delaney said the theft occurred sometime between Tuesday and Thursday last week.
Bernadine Smith -- a member of the church for many years -- estimated the value of the stolen items at about $150,000. "The church was totally stripped, everything but the pews and a couple of chairs out of the pulpit," she said.
The church was founded 80 years ago in Springfield and has been in its current building since 1965. While it once had about 300 members, Smith said that the congregation -- like many inner-city churches -- has become smaller. She added, "We are going to bring it back."
FYROM Muslims Oppose Const. of Orth. Church; Muslim Clerics Fuel Protest, Police Guard Const.
Police are monitoring the situation in the village of Oktisi near Struga in southwestern FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) where last weekend ethnic Albanian Muslims prevented a ground-breaking ceremony for a small Greek Orthodox Church being built by ethnic Macedonians, the Balkan Insight website reports today (August 29, 2013). "The situation is calm, but our patrols are vigilant," a police spokesperson said.
Media reported that last Saturday evening, local Muslim clerics used evening prayers to call believers to protest the next morning against the construction of the church.
On Sunday, more than 100 ethnic Albanians gathered at the construction site and prevented the first ground being broken for the construction of the small church dedicated to St. Demetrius.
A police cordon prevented occasional scuffles between villagers from turning into a major fight, Macedonian news media reported. "We have been deprived of our basic human right to walk freely on this Macedonian land," local Greek Orthodox priest Zoran told media after the incident.
Media reported that last Saturday evening, local Muslim clerics used evening prayers to call believers to protest the next morning against the construction of the church.
On Sunday, more than 100 ethnic Albanians gathered at the construction site and prevented the first ground being broken for the construction of the small church dedicated to St. Demetrius.
A police cordon prevented occasional scuffles between villagers from turning into a major fight, Macedonian news media reported. "We have been deprived of our basic human right to walk freely on this Macedonian land," local Greek Orthodox priest Zoran told media after the incident.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
NYPD Slyly Called Mosques "Terror Enterprises;" Saw Them as "Shields for the Work of Terrorists"
The New York Police Department (NYPD) secretly opened "terrorism enterprise investigations" into at least 10 of the city's mosques, effectively designating every single congregant as a valid surveillance target, the Newser website reports today (August 28, 2013).
Documents uncovered by the Associated Press show that the NYPD spied on countless Muslims, and even tried to get informants onto the boards of mosques and other Islamic institutions.
The department succeeded in convincing a federal judge to rewrite the rules to allow such tactics in 2003, arguing that mosques could "shield the work of terrorists."
The NYPD also sent informants into the mosques carrying hidden recording devices.
Documents uncovered by the Associated Press show that the NYPD spied on countless Muslims, and even tried to get informants onto the boards of mosques and other Islamic institutions.
The department succeeded in convincing a federal judge to rewrite the rules to allow such tactics in 2003, arguing that mosques could "shield the work of terrorists."
The NYPD also sent informants into the mosques carrying hidden recording devices.
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