COMMENTARY: Blinded by the might, leaders lose common touch

c. 2008 Religion News Service Nepal names 6-year-old as `living goddess’ CHENNAI, India (RNS) A 6-year-old girl has been named by Nepal’s new Maoist-led government as a “living goddess,” or Kumari, in a town near the capital of Kathmandu. For centuries, the chief priest of the Nepali monarchy appointed the Kumaris in several towns in […]

c. 2008 Religion News Service

Nepal names 6-year-old as `living goddess’

CHENNAI, India (RNS) A 6-year-old girl has been named by Nepal’s new Maoist-led government as a “living goddess,” or Kumari, in a town near the capital of Kathmandu.


For centuries, the chief priest of the Nepali monarchy appointed the Kumaris in several towns in the Kathmandu valley. However, with the abolition of the monarchy and the country becoming a republic last May, that position has also disappeared.

Officials at the state-run trust overseeing cultural affairs appointed 6-year-old Shreeya Bajracharya as the new Kumari of the temple town of Bhaktapur. “The government authorized us to appoint the Kumari, and we have done that for the first time,” said Deepak Bahadur Pandey, a senior official of the trust.

Shreeya, who is described as “pretty and nice,” was “enthroned” Sunday (Sept. 28) amid prayers by Buddhist priests, and will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike until she reaches puberty.

Devotees worship a Kumari for protection; they also believe that her blessings can cure illness. The Kumaris, who are regarded as incarnations of the goddess Kali, always wear red and have a “third eye” on their foreheads.

Shreeya replaces her controversial predecessor, 11-year-old Sajani Shakya, who retired prematurely earlier this year after nine years in the divine role. Sajani was in the news last year when she was nearly sacked from her position for traveling to the United States to promote a documentary about the Kumaris.

Sajani retired at the request of her family. Her father said at that time that her slightly early retirement had nothing to do with last year’s controversy about her U.S. visit.

_ Achal Narayanan

Liberty to allow gay group to visit campus

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Soulforce 2008 Equality Ride, a nationwide bus tour that promotes acceptance for gays and lesbians on Christian college campuses, will start this year’s tour with a Wednesday (Oct. 1) visit to Liberty University _ the first time the group will be allowed on campus.

In 2006, more than 20 Equality Ride activists were arrested for attempting to enter Liberty’s campus to donate gay-affirming Christian books to the library.


This year’s visit will mark the group’s first visit to Liberty since Jerry Falwell Jr. assumed leadership after the death of his father. Riders say they hope the campus’ zeal for politics will allow open conversation about “faith and fairness,” they said.

“We are in contact with Liberty students who have been waiting for the Equality Ride to return,” said Katie Higgins, Equality Ride’s co-director.

Liberty officials have indicated that they will not plan opportunities for dialogue, but they will not ban the Equality Riders from speaking with students and donating materials to the university, according to a statement released by Soulforce.

“If the administration would rather not talk about safety and quality of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, the students themselves are another story,” Soulforce said.

This year’s tour will target more seminaries than earlier campaigns. The Equality Riders will host forums, participate in panel discussions, and engage in community service opportunities to reach out to the students.

“We bring hope to students who fear expulsion or other sanctions just for being themselves,” said Higgins. “We tell them God loves them just as they are, and we speak up for a community where everyone can learn without fear.”


Johnnie Moore, Liberty’s spiritual programs director, declined to comment about the Equality Riders coming to campus.

_ Ashley Gipson

Quote of the Day: Cynthia Jones of Chicago

(RNS) “I thought about the people _ all of the saints, including my mother _ who have come through this church. They are rejoicing in heaven to see it come out of the ruins.”

_ Cynthia Jones, vice chairwoman of the board of trustees for Chicago’s Pilgrim Baptist Church, which burned down in 2006 and was historic for its role in black gospel music. Quoted by the Chicago Tribune, she was reacting to the unveiling of plans for a $37 million restoration.

KRE/LF END RNS

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