Morning Catholic must-reads: 23/01/12

The visible unity of all Christians is God’s work and requires humility, Benedict XVI said in his Angelus address yesterday.

The Pope said that “true law is inseparable from justice” in his annual address to the Roman Rota on Saturday (video).

Benedict XVI marked the feast of St Agnes on Saturday with the traditional blessing of lambs (video).

The Catholic News Agency reports that Pope Benedict did not approve the Mass celebrated by the Neocatechumenal Way last Friday, but only non-liturgical prayers used in catechesis.

Leading American Catholics, including Cardinal Roger Mahony, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, Robert George and Michael Sean Winters, have reacted with dismay after the Obama administration refused to broaden a religious exemption to its requirement that all health plans cover contraceptives free of charge.

Fr Federico Lombardi SJ argues that Christian unity would greatly enhance the new evangelisation.

And Michael Kelly reports on a new mass movement in Ireland protesting against the closure of the country’s embassy to the Holy See.