The Camden Diocese plans to slash its number of parishes from 124 to 66, Bishop Joseph Galante has announced. Under a restructuring program, the diocese will consist of 38 merged parishes, three "clusters" involving six parishes and 22 stand-alone parishes, Galante said at a press conference today.

A day of communal rallies and demonstrations in the Kandhamal district,Orissa India that experience two simultaneous bandhs called by two different organisations. The tribals owing allegiance to Kui Samaj had earlier given the call for a 36 hour bandh starting from Christmas morning.

Churches, charities and other tax-exempt organizations that paid the federal excise tax on long-distance or bundled telephone service qualify for this year's one-time telephone excise tax refund, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Foreign Ministry of Turkey has rejected the proposal of Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan to hoist a cross on the Holy Cross Armenian Church on Akhtamar island.