Gloria.TV News on the 16th of August 2013

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Evolutionary spirit: On Wednesday, Sr. Ilia Delio addressed the dissenting Leadership Conference of Women Religious gathered for their annual assembly in Orlando, Florida. According to her, the sisters should live their lives with a – quote - “evolutionary spirit”. Her keynote address was titled: “Religious Life on the Edge of the Universe.” The National Catholic Reporter writes: “Later in the morning, the sisters prayed in a 30-minute ritual that involved reflection on the Chinese character for self-emptying love and on the mantra: “Deep within us, shared among us, may we ever keep the mind and heart of Jesus Christ.”

Abyss of ridicule: On August 14th, Pope Francis, received the players of the Argentine national team. After the pope left the assembly, the Argentinean footballer Pocho Lavezzi abruptly sat down on the papal throne and was surrounded by his fellow players. A photo was taken and, of course, published immediately online. Now, Argentina's press is boiling over with enthusiasm: "Papa Pocho??" asks the sports news paper. Francesco Colafemmina commented in Fides et Forma: How long can the Church still bear to sink into the abyss of ridicule?

President apologizes: Ecuador President Rafael Correa has apologized to Archbishop Lorenzo Voltolini of Portoviejo for the profanation of a chapel at the Verdi Cevallos Hospital last Friday. All of the sacred objects in the chapel, including the Blessed Sacrament, were removed on Aug. 9 in order to make room for more hospital beds. The President made it clear that these kinds of acts are not in keeping with the policies of the Ecuadoran government. The hospital’s chaplain, Father Cristian Andrade, visited the chapel last Friday and was surprised to see that the sacred objects had been removed. He was given no prior notice that the chapel was going to be cleared out.

Priest still in jail: According to Interfax, the Belarusian Christian Democracy party has sent an appeal to Belarusian state agencies requesting the release of Father Vladislav Lazar from Borisov. Father Lazar was arrested in late July allegedly in relation to a spy scandal. The appeal read, "We think that the priest's arrest is an attempt to blackmail the Catholic Church in Belarus and to intimidate the Belarusian society.”