Our Takes Daily

Conclave rules changed
Catholic News Service
Pope Benedict XVI stipulated yesterday that a two-thirds majority always is required to elect a new pope, undoing a more flexible procedure introduced by Pope John Paul II. In 1996, Pope John Paul introduced a change in the conclave procedure that allowed cardinal-electors to move to a simple majority after 13 days, when 33 or 34 ballots had been held. Pope Benedict said there had been significant requests for a return to the old rules, under which a two-thirds majority was always required.

Catholic condemned to death
Indian Catholic
An Indian Catholic man is condemned to death for allegedly speaking against the Koran. He’s sat in jail for two years being abused and tortured by guards while awaiting sentencing. Catholic Church and human rights bodies including the Catholic bishops' National Commission for Justice and Peace and the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance have condemned the case and asked the government to closely monitor it.