Gloria TV News on the 22nd of JUne.

They Go Again Old Catholic

Austria

The cancelled Vienna Western Mass will be replaced by a service performed by an Old Catholic minister. The Western Mass is a combination between a Catholic Eucharist and a barbecue. The organizer of the Mass did not agree to have it replaced by a prayer service. The Western Mass used to be an Old Catholic event before the rector of the Catholic Vienna cathedral took over four years ago.

Talk to the Nuncio

Vatican

At a June 18 news conference Msgr. Charles Scicluna of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was confronted with the question: “When the bishops are not good shepherds, what can be done?” He replied: People must know that they can turn to the nuncio when there are issues that have repercussions in the pastoral ministry of bishops, but not to denounce them, but to say: "We have confidence in the ministry of Peter, which the nuncio represents; we have a concern, and we have the duty, not just the right, to present it to Peter."

Marquette Bishop Writes on Deacons

USA

Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette has issued a 19-page pastoral letter on the permanent diaconate. Citing the text of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Bishop Sample stated that the Church’s liturgical norms “rule out the notion of the deacon preaching the homily at Mass on a routine or scheduled basis.” The bishop continues: “The permanent deacon may preach the homily at Mass for some identifiable advantage for the faithful in the congregation, but not on a regular basis.” And: "Potential candidates who have been divorced will not be admitted into the diaconate program. If a candidate, already accepted, begins to experience serious marital discord, separation or divorce, the candidate will withdraw from the program.”

More Freedom For the Coptic Church?

Egypt

The Egyptian government is considering a proposal to relax restrictions on the building of churches. Currently, only the president may approve the construction of a church. Under the proposal, regional governors would make a decision within three months. “If these proposals come into law, it could mean that building churches will be almost on the same level as constructing mosques,” said Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos Kamal William Samaan of Asyut. “What we are seeing here is one of the first fruits of the demonstrations back in January. When the Christians demonstrated, they asked for their rights and the first right they demanded was the construction of churches.” The bishop added: “More than 50% of the problems Christians face will be resolved if we can make progress on this issue.”

Obligation to Perform Abortions?

USA

Plans to build a new Catholic hospital in Maryland have encountered opposition from the anticlerical organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The group noted that the proposed Holy Cross Hospital site would not perform abortions.