· November, 2011

Stories about Religion from November, 2011

Russia: Mount Athos Monastery Photo Exhibition

  28 November 2011

The State Historical Museum of Moscow is hosting an exhibition of 240 photographs from the Mount Athos Monastery of St Simon's collection, dated between 1848-1963. The inauguration of the photo exhibit took place on 8 November, 2011, and was attended by political and religious representatives, as well as artists from...

Maldives: Reactions To Defacing Of Monuments

  22 November 2011

Some SAARC countries have sent monuments to Maldives to celebrate the SAARC summit this year. Maldives’ religious party Adhaalath had called for removal of these alleged idols. Sri Lankan blogger Indrajit Samarajiva shares his reactions on the desecration of the Sri Lankan and Pakistani monuments.

Cuba: Ladies Detained Again

  21 November 2011

The Ladies in White were once again attacked this weekend as they tried to attend Mass, babalu reports; two of the group's members are allegedly “still being held in a Castro prison.”

Barbados: Thoughts on “Un-Hating”

  17 November 2011

Skip to Malou* is taken with the new Benetton ad campaign, saying: “Love it or hate it, I'm blogging about this…because I see it as a creative way to bring across some strong, thought provoking messages…poking at very sensitive, serious issues in a light hearted way.”

Cuba: Honouring the Island's Patron Saint

  16 November 2011

Havana Times reports on the celebration of an outdoor mass this past weekend “in honor of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, considered by Catholics to be the ‘Patron Saint of Cuba'”, explaining: “Next year will mark the 400th year since the discovery of the image; it seems that...

Cuba: Papal Visit Challenges

  14 November 2011

Crossing the Barbed Wire suggests that the proposed Papal visit to Cuba next year “presents challenges for three essential actors of the current Cuba”; El Cafe Cubano, meanwhile, says: “I don't believe the Pope's visit will do anything to ‘CHANGE’ things in Cuba.”

Haiti: “Abandoned Population”

  11 November 2011

Dying in Haiti republishes the desperate pleas of a Catholic priest in Robillard, who says that “several of the family members of the cholera inpatients of [the area] have TB symptoms. The situation of Robilllard is definitely becoming chaotic. We cannot expose an entire population to some TB people.”

Cuba: On the Pope's Potential Visit

  10 November 2011

On hearing news that the Pope may visit Cuba next year, diaspora blogger babalu says: “If the Pope does indeed visit Cuba and the Castro regime is still in power, there can only be two possible outcomes: either the visit will be ‘apolitical,'…or the Pope will stand up and vehemently...

Cuba: Catholic Solidarity with Dissidents

  8 November 2011

Pedazos de La Isla is heartened by this weekend's “display of solidarity [by] loyal churchgoers [who] showed solidarity with the Ladies in White, joining the religious figures in their successful attempt to deter a savage beat down of the non-violent women who simply demand freedom.”

Russia: Celebration of Eid al-Adha in Saint Petersburg

  7 November 2011

Mr7.ru writes [ru] about the Eid al-Adha celebration by Muslims living in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. The site writes that up to 80,000 people took part in the celebration according to different sources, quoting Shamil Mugattarov, the head of Coordination Council of Muslims in Saint Petersburg, as complaining about “the lack...

Egypt: Men Should Wear the Veil!

  4 November 2011

With Islamists rising in post-revolution Egypt, fear of religious oppression is growing among youth, minorities, and women. A new Facebook group encouraging men to wear Hijab or veils, in solidarity with women has just popped up. Here are some reactions to the initiative from Egyptian and Tunisian netizens.

Cuba: Church & State

  3 November 2011

“At 75, Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega cannot complain about his lack of recognition”: Another perspective on the work and influence of the head of the Catholic Church in Cuba, by Havana Times.