Rocky Mountain Retreat to offer dharma teachings
A teaching about The Four Dharmas of Gampopa with Khenpo Lobzang will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rocky Mountain Retreat, 848 East Third Ave.
Khenpo Lobzang, resident lama at Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, a retreat center under the direction of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, will teach the class.
A reflection and study group will follow at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Rocky Mountain Retreat.
Before coming to the United States, Khenpo was the director of a monastery and college in Varanasi, India.
Gampopa was the foremost student of Tibet’s Milarepa and the father of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. His Four Dharmas are a concise teaching about the Buddhist spiritual path.
For more information, call Njal Schold at 259-0063 or email njschold@msn.com.
Vatican surveys find Catholics reject sex rules
VATICAN CITY – Surveys commissioned by the Vatican have shown that the vast majority of Catholics in Germany and Switzerland reject church teaching on contraception, sexual morality, gay unions and divorce.
The Vatican took the unusual step of commissioning the surveys ahead of a major meeting of bishops that Pope Francis has called for October to discuss the family.
This week, German and Swiss bishops reported the results. They were surprising in the near-uniformity of responses: The church’s teachings on sexuality, morality and marriage are rejected as unrealistic and outdated by the vast majority of Catholics who nevertheless are active in parish life and consider their faith vitally important. Also surprising was the eagerness with which the bishops publicized the results.
Despite the findings, moral theologians warned church doctrine won’t change.
Group appeals lease for mountain Jesus statue
HELENA, Mont. – The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a federal judge’s decision allowing the U.S. Forest Service to renew a 10-year permit for a statue of Jesus that was placed on a Montana ski hill six decades ago.
In its Jan. 28 brief, the group continues its argument that “a permanent Catholic shrine on public land” is prohibited under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In June 2013, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen said the statue at Whitefish Mountain Resort is more often used as a meeting point and site for photo opportunities rather than a solemn place for religious reflection.
‘Merry Christmas’ bill passes Indiana Senate
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s state Senate has unanimously passed a bill to allow the celebration of Christmas and other holidays in its public schools.
The legislation would allow schools to decorate with Nativity scenes or menorahs if paired with a secular symbol or one from another religion. Legislation also would permit schools to teach the history of winter holidays and to give holiday greetings, such as “Merry Christmas.”
Ten other states have proposed similar laws.
The Indiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union says the bill would be unconstitutional and would allow public schools to endorse religion.
The bill’s author, state Sen. Jim Smith, it’s necessary because Christmas is “under attack.”
Herald Staff & Associated Press
