From around the world.
New bishop in Kerala
The South Asia Mail reports that Thomas K. Oommen has been consecrated as the 12th Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India. Bishop Oommen promised that the church would speak for the oppressed and afflicted, and will pursue an active political role to ensure the welfare of the people.
1.5 million to meet with Pope in Spain on World Youth Day
Organizers at the Vatican say they expect as many as 1.5 million people to attend the Catholic church’s World Youth Day event to be led by Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid.
Nearly 300,000 youths — many from Italy, France and the United States — have already signed up for the August 18-21 event, the organizers said Tuesday. The global event was last held in Sydney, Australia, in 2008, when some 350,000 faithful from 170 countries turned out for the pope’s centerpiece Mass.
Island owned by Canadian parish becomes wildlife preserve
The Times and Transcript (Moncton, New Brunswick) offers a great deal of background information in its report on the transformation of Grindstone Island, owned by the Parish of Sackville in the Diocese of Fredericton, into a wildlife preserve.
Robbers snatch ₦.8 Million From Nigerian bishop
The Daily Trust (Nigeria) reports that armed robbers stole 800,000 Nairas (about €3700) from the new Bishop of Asaba, holding him and his wife at gunpoint until they had finished looting.
Abuse compensation in Germany
Germany’s Roman Catholic church has offered to make cash payments of up to 5,000 euros to victims of church-related child sexual abuse in as still-as-yet-unknown number of cases, some dating back decades.
US Freedom of speech challenged
Israeli Ambassador to USA, Michael Oren is no stranger to controversy, especially when he speaks on U.S. college campuses. But 11 students now face criminal charges for disrupting Oren’s speech last year. The move has provoked the ire of both Muslim and Jewish groups and rekindled a debate over what constitutes free speech.