Rome says "No" for a change
As reported by Nancy Frazier O'Brien via Catholic News Service, many churches in the U.S. follow the practice of Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers (lay people) purifying the vessels used during the Mass for Communion. Apparently, the U.S. bishops received an indult in 2002 to allow this practice despite its difference from the general rules for the Latin Mass. This time, when the U.S. Bishops asked the Vatican to extend the indult, Pope Benedict said, "No." Now lay ministers may no longer purify the vessels, in accord with the practice of the rest of the Church. I have gotten so used to the Vatican just saying "Yes" to any practice already in place, that this result surprised me a little. I think it bodes well for restricting and abolishing some of the liturgical abuses now rampant in the Novus Ordo Mass.