Gloria TV News on the Feast of Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus.

Archbishop Burke Writes Clarification

Vatican

The possibility of girls and lay faithful to carry out certain roles on the altar are not prescribed as "rights" within the Church, the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura Archbishop Raymond Burke has stated. He expressed himself in a clarification he wrote about the consequences of the reintroduction of the Latin Rite Mass by Pope Benedict. The clarification comes just a week after L'Osservatore Romano published an article proposing that the introduction of girls into the position of serving at the altar "meant the end of every attribution of impurity to their sex." Archbishop Burke clarified, however, that the reality of the matter is that neither the presence of girls at the altar, nor the participation of lay faithful "belong to the fundamental rights of the baptized."

Catholic St. Edward’s University Does Not Receive Obama

USA

President Obama is makes a fundraising tour for the Democratic party through Texas. But St. Edward’s University has announced its decision to decline a White House request for the president to speak on campus. The college cited timing issues as the primary motive for its decision. St. Edward’s University was founded by Fr. Edward Sorin of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, on a hill top in Austin, Texas. Fr Sorin founded also the University of Notre Dame. It reports enrolling around 5,000 students and a commitment to critical thinking, social justice and ethical practice.

Fight Against a Memorial

Poland

Protesters have demanded the removal of a cross erected at Warsaw's presidential palace after the April air crash death of Polish president Lech Kaczynski and 95 other victims. Supporters and relatives of the late president, including his twin brother and opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, want the cross to remain as a memorial to victims of the April 10 air crash.

Spain’s Trophy Goes to Our Lady of Guadelupe

Spain

The Spanish Royal Federation of Soccer offered the World Cup trophy Spain recently won to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the basilica in Mexico City. During the emotional ceremony, the president of the Federation, Angel Maria Villar, presented the trophy to Msgr. Diego Monry, fulfilling a promise made during his last visit to Mexico. He said: “Every time I have come to Mexico, I have visited the Basilica. When I came to sign the agreement for the match in Mexico I went to Mass and I prayed for one thing, to be world champions. I am selfish—you’re not supposed to ask for those things but the mother of God granted it to me.”