EDMONTON — The new academic dean at Newman Theological College says theologians must strive to defend tradition from too much innovation and protect innovation from "a stale, narrow reading of the tradition."

Jason West, who has taught philosophy at the college for the past seven years, takes over as dean from Father Stefano Penna, who assumes the new position of vice-president for college development and advancement.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict has named a new bishop for the Diocese of Nicolet, Quebec, and two new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Montreal.

Accepting the resignation July 11 of Bishop Raymond Saint-Gelais, who reached the customary retirement age of 75 in March, the pope named Montreal Auxiliary Bishop Andre Gazaille, 65, to succeed him.

EDMONTON — When things are going well, people are prone to praise God. They praise God when they land a new job, get married or have a grandchild.

But Connie Schumacher praised God when her truck caught on fire and when her neighbour shot bullets through her kitchen window. She even praised God when her husband left her.

McLENNAN - The Archdiocese of Grouard McLennan plans to move its offices from the town of McLennan into Grande Prairie.

The move is motivated primarily by transportation and staffing needs, says Archbishop Gerard Pettipas.

INUVIK, N.W.T. — In the midst of a gathering which seeks reconciliation and healing from the 130-year history of residential schools in Canada, Catholic and Anglican bishops from the North took responsibility for the 400-year-old division between the churches and pledged continued dialogue, co-operation and reconciliation.

"This is a road we're on and there are no exits," said Bishop Gary Gordon of Whitehorse.

INUVIK, N.W.T. — The Church in the North can help native people recover their languages and cultural identity, but it won't be easy, said Oblate Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie.

Church support for native culture begins with help for families — whether through ordinary, daily ministry or special programs, Lavoie said July 1.

It's Sunday morning and, as usual, the Bissell Centre's drop-in centre is full of people attending the ecumenical worship service. They sit at round tables, which they will later use to eat lunch.

At the front is the altar, which had been wheeled in just before the service. Dressed in white clergy gear, Pastor Rick Chapman, the Anglican pastor of the Community of Emmanuel for the past five years, opens the service by announcing the stabbing death of a young member of the congregation.

Father John Corapi was involved in "years of cohabitation" with a former prostitute, repeated abuse of alcohol and drugs and "serious violation" of his promise of poverty, according to a fact-finding team appointed by his religious order.

Corapi has been ordered by the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity to return to live at the order's regional headquarters in Robstown, Texas, and to dismiss a lawsuit against the woman whose accusations prompted the investigation.

OTTAWA — Bill Whatcott is the kind of man who would carry a "Repent" sign to a gay pride parade and preach about the evils of sodomy for the length of the parade.

Whatcott's lawyer Tom Schuck said Whatcott not only did that — the scene is captured in the new documentary Freedom of Whatcott produced by the Moon Brothers — but also his client arrived ahead of the parade to the rallying point and grabbed the microphone.

WINNIPEG — Everyone is forgivable, even society's worst offenders, say the facilitators of a program they believe is a new approach to restorative justice.

Wilma Derksen and Adam Klassen describe Journey to Justice as a group of volunteers with varied backgrounds meeting with prison inmates to explore issues of justice.