The Church has welcomed a decision by the communist-led government in India’s southern Kerala state to drop charges against an 88-year-old Catholic bishop and 23 others for entering a restricted forest during a march demanding the reopening of a blocked public road. “We are happy the go-vernment announced dropping of charges against our elderly bishop for joining a public protest,” said Vincent Nedun-gatt, Vicar General of Kotha-mangalam diocese of Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Church based in Kerala. Retired Bishop George Punnakottil of Kotha-mangalam and others, including elected representatives, were charged with violating forest laws and trespassing on forest land on March 23, along with over 3000 aggrieved local people, mostly farmers. Father Nedungatt told on April 21 that the prelate should not have been charged with violation of the law. “He knew the difficulties and pain of his people, especially farmers, and joined the protest to protect their interests,” he added. People from different walks of life, including Catholics, condemned the Left Democratic Front government and demanded that it withdraw the charges against the bishop and others. The government decided to drop the charges at a high-level meeting attended by Law Minister P. Rajeev, Forest Minister A. K. Saseen-dran and other senior officials on April 16, official sources said.
Spanish bishops speak out after leaks of their meeting with Leo XIV
The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks
