Morning Catholic must-reads: 07/08/12

The French bishops have urged all parishes to say a “prayer for France” on August 15 in opposition to the new socialist government’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage and possibly introduce euthanasia.

Fr José Gabriel Funes, head of the Vatican Observatory, has congratulated NASA for successfully landing the rover Curiosity on Mars.

The Zambian government has reportedly expelled a Rwandan priest for denouncing the growing gap between rich and poor in the southern African country.

Mgr Robert Vitillo, special adviser on Aids for Caritas Internationalis, has said that the global economic crisis is hampering the fight against the disease.

A court has refused to grant bail to Mgr William Lynn, the first high-ranking American Catholic official convicted of failing to prevent clerical abuse.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York says that if American Sisters “can survive the battlefields of the Civil War, they’ll survive … the current examination by Rome”.

Sulochana Ramiah Mohan interviews Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar, Sri Lanka’s most controversial churchman.

Stratford Caldecott talks to Charlotte Ostermann about his blueprint for renewing Catholic education.

James Kalb considers whether Catholics can accept the 21st-century political ideology of equality.

And Fr James Schall SJ explains why he is hooked on the Olympics.

For updates throughout the day follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen