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Gloria TV News. 1. Ireland Sing to the Lord Songs that are not religious in nature will no longer be allowed at ceremonies in St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy. The cathedral’s authorities, who …More
Gloria TV News.

1. Ireland
Sing to the Lord

Songs that are not religious in nature will no longer be allowed at ceremonies in St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy. The cathedral’s authorities, who are concerned at an increase in the use of such songs, in particular during wedding and funeral liturgies, have told parishioners that pop music and folk songs will no longer permitted. Pop or folk songs involved may well be beautiful, but they do not respect the sacred character of the liturgy. Quoting St. Paul, Curate Fr. Richard Lawless, told parishioners that churchgoers ‘should sing the words and tunes of the psalm and hymns, and to go out singing and chanting to the Lord in their hearts.’

2. Scotland
Nothing wrong with that

Addressing the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cherie Blair has again called upon the Church to change her perennial teaching on contraception. “I personally don't think there is anything wrong with that, said the wife of the former British prime minister, and indeed without being able to control that I wouldn't have been able to achieve the things that I've been able to do. I think there's a lot of difference between preventing a life coming about and actually extinguishing a life when it has come about, she added. A spokesman for the Church in Scotland defended Catholic teaching after hearing Mrs. Blair’s remarks. Referring to the abortifacient nature of some contraceptives, he said that extinguishing a life “is exactly what the morning-after pill does, while the conventional pill can potentially do the same.”

3. USA
Resignations - Nominations

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph F. Martino, 63, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, for health reasons. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia was appointed to be apostolic administrator for the diocese. The pope also has accepted the resignation of Scranton Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty, who is 77. Canon law requires that all bishops submit their resignation to the pope when they turn 75.

4 Italy
Dinner canceled

A planned dinner between Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was canceled by the Vatican after a newspaper owned by the prime minister’s brother accused the editor of the Italian bishops’ newspaper of having a homosexual affair. The editor, who has publicly criticized the prime minister’s personal behavior, denied the allegation, while the prime minister disassociated himself from the newspaper attack.