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HAWAII
Buddhism in Bhutan is focus of seminar

A view of Buddhist practices and meditation in the Himalayan country of Bhutan will be presented next Saturday in the annual Futaba Lecture Series at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.

An 8:30 a.m. reception at the temple, 1727 Pali Highway, will precede the free program, which will continue from 9 a.m. to noon. It is open to the public.

It will open with an overview of Tibetan Buddhism by Georgiana Cook, a Tibetan translator and writer from the Maui Dharma Center.

Lama Rinchen Wangyel of Bhutan, the first scholar in the University of Hawaii Religion and Public Life Project, will describe the influence of Buddhism in his country. A monk, he is on the staff of the Bhutan Council for Religious Affairs.

UH religion professor George Tanabe will be moderator of the program. The series is named for the late Kenko Futaba, a noted Shin Buddhism scholar and writer.

Sessions to teach energy practices

A 10-session course in ancient energy practices that support mental, spiritual and emotional health will begin Tuesday at Christ Church Uniting in Kailua.

Joyce Lee, who is trained in chi kung, reiki and pranic healing practice, will give a free 90-minute introductory session at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary at 1300 Kailua Road. The class will continue on Tuesday mornings. It is open to the public.

A free-will offering will be accepted to support future adult education programs. Call 262-6911 for information.

NATION
Honor of nun's work with gays is canceled

ROYAL OAK, Mich. » The Archdiocese of Detroit says it canceled a church's plan to honor a nun on parish premises, saying her gay outreach is incompatible with Roman Catholic teaching.

Sister Jeannine Gramick, 62, was to have been honored last Sunday at St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak following a screening of a documentary film entitled "In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick's Journey of Faith."

In 1999, Vatican officials barred Gramick from pastoral outreach to gays and lesbians after she had been working in the field for about 20 years. The main complaint was that she had failed in her ministry to make clear that the church condemns gay sex.

Once the Detroit Archdiocese learned of the reception, it determined that "one of its parish facilities is not the appropriate setting for a gathering not in accord with the mission and message of the church," archdiocesan spokesman Ned McGrath said in a statement.

Gramick said, "What is so harmful about having cookies and punch after a film that brings people the knowledge that the church is bringing ministry to lesbian and gay people?"