FOCUS ON THE FAMILY FOR NATION BUILDING: OSCAR FERNANDES
New Delhi: Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Mr.Oscar Fernandez praised the efforts of Praise The Almighty for completing ten successful years in publication. Mr. Fernandez was delivering the keynote address during the tenth anniversary celebrations of PTA at the Delhi Diocesan Community Hall on February 6, 2009.The Minister observed that he had participated in several meetings connected with the inauguration of periodicals and other media.  READ MORE

COW URINE TO BE PROMOTED AS SOFT DRINK
New Delhi: The bovine brew is in the final stages of development by the Cow Protection Department of the RSS, India’s biggest and oldest Hindu nationalist group, according to the man who makes it. Om Prakash, the head of the department, said the drink – called “gau jal”, (cow water) – in Sanskrit was undergoing laboratory tests and would be launched “very soon, maybe by the end of this year”. READ MORE

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BMC OFFICIAL SUSPENDED
Mumbai: The Bombay Municipal Corporation has suspended one of its officials for misusing his powers to destroy a heritage cross situated opposite Bandra Talao. The heritage cross boasts of a history of nearly 150 years. Had the attempt to demolish not been noticed by concerned citizens, another Christian landmark in the city would have disappeared without a trace. The Bombay Catholic Sabha had registered a strong protest over the incident. READ MORE

ORISSA YET TO REACH NORMALCY
Kandhamal, Orissa: The Orissa government admits that six months after the Hindutva fury was let loose on a hapless Christian population of Kandhamal District, it is still not able to ensure the safety and security of thousands of Christians who cannot still return to their village homes. READ MORE

MINISTERS ATTEND CHILD MARRIAGE CEREMONY
Bangalore (Karnataka) Feb 15 2009: Eight children got married in Karnataka in the presence of three Ministers and senior government officials. The illegal weddings took place in Devdurga in the northern district of Raichur. Those who got married include children aged 4 to 14. They were among the 501 couples who got married in a special ceremony at the Shiva temple at Devdurga Mundargi. The event was organized by Shivanna Gauda Naik, an MLA and minister in Karnataka. READ MORE

CIVIL SERVICE OFFICIALS KILLED IN MANIPUR
Imphal, February 18, 2009 : Manipur Civil Service (MCS) officials were killed by anti-social elements in the North Eastern state of Manipur. The All India Christian Council (AICC), along with condemning the killing, appeals to all the tribes, communities of the state, and particularly the churches of all denominations to condemn the ongoing killings in the state and be involved in restoring the peace, harmony, law and order in the region. READ MORE

CHRISTIANS ASSUALTED IN UPPER ASSAM
Delhi, Feb 6 2009: A group of unidentified people detained Catholic priests, nuns and believers including women and children and assaulted them on January 24, 2009 at Majuli Island, Jorhat district of Assam. The Diocese of Dibrugarh, in a press release said, that the attack took place as these Christians were returning after ordaining the first priest from the Mishing community.
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NURSE SUSPENDED FOR PRAYING IN LONDON, REINSTATED
London: A nurse who was suspended without pay for asking a patient whether she would like to be prayed for has been reinstated and will return to work soon. Caroline Petrie, from Weston-super-Mare, who was subjected to disciplinary action even though the patient did not complain, was told yesterday that she could resume her duties by North Somerset Primary Care Trust. READ MORE

RECESSION HITS AMERICAN CHURCHES
Florida (USA): “We’re facing what our members are facing in their companies and at work,” said the Rev.David Loveless, pastor of Discovery Church in Orlando. Its four campuses serve about 4,000 members. ”We’ve probably cut $700,000 out of the budget this year,” Loveless said. Although his church has not missed any loan payments, it had to lay off about a dozen of its 75 paid staffers and recently instituted across-the-board pay cuts of 10 percent.
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HOLOCAUST DENYING BISHOP HAS BEEN 'SILENCED'
Vatican City: An ultraconservative society recently rehabilitated by Pope Benedict XVI silenced one of its bishops Tuesday and distanced itself from his claim that no Jews were gassed during World War II. Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, also asked for forgiveness from the pope for the “dramatic consequences” of Bishop Richard Williamson’s comments. READ MORE

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• Political Confessions can remove hatred, heal old wounds – M P K Kutty
• The Mangalore Pub Incident : Is there anything called an “Indian” Culture? – Philip P. Eapen
• Terrorism and conversion
• Q&A: Isn't  the whole world under the control of Satan now? – Shaji, Saudi Arabia
• Cornelius the Gentile: A truth seeker-2 By Pastor V.N. Chellappan
• Being where people are - Jim Elliff
• Editorial – Our franchise: A sacred trust
• An eye for an eye? –  Philip P. Eapen
• Thoughts on Valentine day – M P K Kutty
• Evolution’s biggest hurdles – John D. Morris, Ph. D.
• Jelly fish reveal the recent hand of the creator – Frank Sherwin, M.A.
• Fighting media assault – Dr. Blesson C.S.
• Learning evolution theory –  Beena Didi
• Dream fulfilled – Rev. J. Yesunatha Das, New Delhi
• Lessons from Joshua’s life – Joe Aldrich