Gloria TV News on the Feast of St. Stephen of Hungary.

Catholic Universities Must Conserve Their Future

Vatican

"Only the Catholic university that conserves its identity will have a future," said Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education in an interview with CAN, just days before the 20th anniversary of John Paul II's document “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” . The cardinal explained that if a Catholic university loses its identity, it becomes just like any other.

Major Break From the Past?

Turkey

The government of Turkey has approved a plan by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to celebrate the feast of the Dormition at an ancient monastery, with thousands of Orthodox faithful expected to attend the ceremony. This is a major break from the past. Church leaders are suspicious, however, that the government’s move is not a permanent policy change, but a temporary move designed to boost the country’s chances for gaining acceptance into the European Union.

Believers Have Better Chance of Survival

Italy

A study of liver-transplant recipients in Italy has found that those with a strong religious faith had a markedly better chance of long-term survival. The study by the Pisa National Research Council followed 179 transplant patients for 4 years. It found that the mortality rate was three times higher among the non-religious patients. The study included a detailed questionnaire about religious beliefs and practices, to distinguish between a pro forma claim of religious affiliation and an active religious faith.

Boycott Sin!

Ireland

80-year-old Jennifer Sleeman from Clonakilty in Cork is organizing a one-time boycott of Sunday Mass “by the faithful women of Ireland” next month. She wants “to let the Vatican and the Irish Church know that women are tired of being treated as second-class citizens”. She says: “Some of my children are actively looking for a meaningful spiritual life but they do not find it in the Catholic Church.” Her son Fr. Simon, a monk in Glenstal Abbey, is supportive of her action. Larry from the blog Acts of the Apostasy comments: “The only thing this boycott is going to accomplish is that a bunch of blue hairs are going to commit mortal sins. Premeditated mortal sin - excusing themselves from receiving Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.” The blogger continues: “ If you want children and grandchildren to return to the Church, or find a "meaningful spiritual life", I have some advice for you: Get your 80-year old butt in Church every day, before the Blessed Sacrament, and pray with every ounce of your soul for their salvation. And if you're going to boycott anything - boycott sin.” Larry concludes: “And someone should go smack her priest-son upside the head, too.”