[siunevada]

Try Googling 'Swiss bishops'.

First story up is from swissinfo.org and contains this:

Pastoral assistants

Another sensitive issue due to be discussed was the role of lay theologians in the life of the Church.

In Switzerland, the shortage of priests has led to a greater dependency on non-ordained theologians to fulfil some priestly duties.

Two weeks ago the Swiss Bishops Conference issued a paper recognising this situation and officially permitting lay theologians to preach during Mass, in apparent contradiction of a Vatican edict of last year that only priests can deliver sermons.

The paper also gave lay pastoral assistants the right to baptise, and said Protestants could take communion in certain cases.

[sinkspur]

The USCCB has approved "The Rite for Communion Services in the absence of a Priest or Deacon." Lay Leaders--parish members chosen by the pastor or pastoral council--conduct a Scripture-based prayer service with the distribution of communion. This service is usually held in lieu of daily Mass when a priest is not available, but it is also becoming more common on some Sundays in remote areas.

Now, as part of this prayer service, the lay leader is invited to offer some "reflections." The rite is careful to say that this must not be a homily, but it is, in fact, a homily by another name if the leader reflects on the readings.

It is a very simple step from allowing lay leaders to reflect on the readings in a prayer service, to allowing them to reflect on the readings at a Mass.

It would surprise me if the Vatican gave the Swiss bishops a particular dispensation for lay theologians to preach. If it did, I can think of a dozen other episcopal conferences which will immediately petition for the same dispensation. The US would be part of that 12.