Morning Catholic must-reads: 16/09/11

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, has criticised the UN for promoting the “totally unacceptable” concept of “safe abortion” (full text).

Fr Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, has said that he may found a religious order if his bishop does not allow him to dedicate himself to pro-life work.

Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, said there was “an atmosphere of tranquility and peace” in the Libyan capital when he returned there yesterday.

Benedict XVI has said he was “slightly astounded” to discover how much he had written when the visited an exhibition of his books at Castel Gandolfo.

Edward Pentin reports that the Stasi considered Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to be “one of the fiercest opponents of Communism” in West Germany.

Dylan Parry wonders if it is now a sin for Catholics in England and Wales to eat meat on Fridays.

And Fr James Martin SJ urges the faithful to develop a distinctly Catholic sense of humour.