Morning Catholic must-reads 10/08/10

The exhumed body of Padre Pio lies in the crypt of the saint's shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo in 2008 (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)

Thieves in Italy have attempted to steal a gold reliquary containing Padre Pio’s relics.

Three men who sought to hold the Vatican liable in an American court for sexual abuse by priests in a Kentucky diocese are abandoning the case.

Just 2,500 tickets have been allocated to Catholics in Northern Ireland to attend open-air events during the Pope’s visit to England and Scotland.

Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City has criticised the Mexican Supreme Court decision upholding same-sex marriage.

Elizabeth Hansen reviews Catholic responses to last week’s ruling on Proposition 8.

Ross Douthat says it’s naive to assume that legalising same-sex marriage will have little cultural impact.

John Cooney says that the Pope’s meeting with the Queen next month is a stepping stone to a papal visit to Ireland.

Fr Richard McKay says the Pope is coming to Britain to build bridges.

L’Osservatore Romano is sorry that Raphael’s painting of the Transfiguration hangs in a museum rather than a church.

Mel Gibson’s father has claimed that Benedict XVI and half of all Vatican employees are homosexual.

And a columnist for the tabloid New York Post is training for the priesthood.