New Delhi (Fides Service) - Father Babu Joseph Karakombil, a Divine Word Missionary, is the new spokesman and communications officer of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India who will keep contact not only with the media but also with the central government of India. The appointment comes at a time when the Bishops of India are increasingly concerned over repeated verbal attacks by fundamentalist groups on the Catholic Church. The Church has to decide how to defend itself from these campaigns of accusations and defamation. Fr Karakombil for many years, spokesman and communications office for Bhopal archdiocese in Madhya Pradesh, is much appreciated for his activity. His articles on the viewpoint of the Church in the media and society have been published in several magazines. (Fides Service 17/2/2003 EM lines 9 Words: 129)