Morning Catholic must-reads: 17/02/12

Archbishop Charles Brown, the new apostolic nuncio to Ireland, presented his credentials to the country’s president, Michael D Higgins, yesterday.

A council of cardinals that advises the Holy See on financial affairs issued a statement yesterday welcoming “an ongoing commitment to improve the administration of the goods and resources of the Holy See“.

Italian prime minister Mario Monti has announced that he will introduce a law ending a Church tax exemption on buildings used for commercial purposes.

Every single bishop in the United States has condemned the Obama administration’s contraception mandate publicly, reports Thomas Peters.

Tanzanian Cardinal Polycarp Pengo has accused some American bishops of “grabbing” priests from Africa to serve in their dioceses without full permission of the local bishop.

John Allen describes Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan as the “rock star” of tomorrow’s consistory.

The cardinal-designate has revealed that he goes to Confession every two weeks “because I need it”.

Timothy Carney explains why Catholics aren’t required to tithe.

And Mother Dolores Hart, who appeared in films with Elvis Presley as a young woman, will walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards next Sunday in full habit.