Today’s Catholic must-reads: 30/05/12

Benedict XVI addressed the so-called Vatileaks scandal directly at his general audience this morning, saying that the affair had “brought sadness to my heart” (video, full text of comments in Italian).

Archbishop Angelo Becciu, Substitute of the Secretariat of State, has described the leaks of confidential papal documents as “an immoral act of unheard-of gravity“.

Fides reports that Christians are fleeing Syria following a “plague of kidnappings“.

Authorities in the Chinese province of Shanxi have imposed severe restrictions on the funeral of an underground bishop who was imprisoned for 20 years.

Richard Allen Greene suggests that the Vatileaks affair may revolve around a struggle between Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and his predecessor as Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

Devin Rose argues that Catholics will lose the battle over same-sex marriage.

Michael Moreland denies that St Thomas More was “unnaturally fond of torturing heretics”.

And Rorate Caeli hails the priestly courage of the late Italian country pastor Fr Ivan Martini.