Gloria TV News on the Feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle.

Homosexuals Attack Archbishop

Belgium

On Tuesday, homosexual– activists have brutally attacked archbishop André-Joseph Leonard of Brussels. They tossed custard pies at him in order to protest against his critical views concerning the homosexual disorder and the abortion of unborn babies. The pies were thrown at the archbishop while he was speaking at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, near Brussels. This is the second time Leonard has been targeted in this way.

Archbishop Speaks Clear Words

USA

Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has spoken clear words about couples who live together outside marriage. He emphasized that cohabiting couples "are objectively living in a state of mortal sin and may not receive Holy Communion." They should not act as extraordinary ministers, or be sponsors for Baptism or Confirmation. Those who are living together without marriage, Archbishop Sheehan noted, "cannot receive the sacraments, with the important exception of those who agree to live chastely "as brother and sister" until their situation is regularized."

New Revelations About Saint Peter’s Dome

Vatican

On Tuesday, Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reported that the 16th-century equivalent of today's reinforcement concrete was used to construct Saint Peter’s Dome. Researchers have probed that the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica with high-tech tools revealing 16th-century materials and construction techniques. The stone of the dome is supported by 7 iron rings. Until now it had been thought that the dome had only 2 such rings. Structural engineers have found that the building is even stronger than previously believed.

Dismantling the Catholic School System in Ireland

Ireland

The process of transferring some Catholic schools in Ireland to other patrons cannot be rushed and can only be considered in response to clear public demand, the Catholic Schools Partnership declared. Catholic Schools Partnership is an umbrella group providing support for all partners in the Republic’s Catholic schools. The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn had previously revealed plans to transfer from January 50 per cent of Irelands 3,000 catholic primary schools to other patrons. These plans destabilized school communities, raising fears that change might be imposed from the top down.