Morning Catholic must-reads: 16/01/12

Migrants are “not just numbers” but people seeking a place to live in peace, Benedict XVI said after the Angelus yesterday.

The Pope may give final approval to the liturgy of the Neocatechumenal Way this Friday, reports Sandro Magister.

Auxiliary Bishop Alan Hopes of Westminster sent a greeting to mark the first anniversary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham yesterday.

Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon has claimed that Freemasons “have a direct influence in politics” in Portugal.

Italian Bishop Paolo Urso of Ragusa has called for the civil recognition of same-sex partnerships.

L’Osservatore Romano has published Pope Benedict’s prayer intentions for 2013.

Fr Federico Lombardi says that we shouldn’t be surprised by the persecution of Christians worldwide.

John Allen identifies “five myths about anti-Christian persecution“.

Francis X Clooney SJ gives an insight into Fr Karl-Josef Becker who will be made cardinal next month.

Marcel LeJeune responds to the viral video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”.

Dylan Parry hails the English Cardinal Henry Edward Manning on the 120th anniversary of his death.

Fr Kevin Lixey, an official at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, applauds Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

And Carlos Espinosa concludes that “dogs are God’s way of teaching us about love, faithfulness, death and detachment from this life”.