Morning Catholic must-reads: 28/08/12

Archbishop-elect Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco has apologised “for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself” after police stopped him under suspicion of drunk driving.

Benedict XVI and Italian prime minister Mario Monti discussed “the main challenges facing the European Union” during a 45-minute meeting at Castel Gandolfo yesterday.

A medical review has determined that a Pakistani Christian girl with Down’s Syndrome accused of blasphemy is a minor.

Melkite Archbishop Jean-Clément Jeanbart of Aleppo has reportedly fled to Lebanon after his offices were ransacked in the war-torn Syrian city.

Fr Benedict Groeschel suggests that some clerical abusers should not be jailed for their first offence “because their intention was not committing a crime”.

John Allen says that Vatican officials will be happy if Pope Benedict simply “gets in and out of Lebanon without a major security scare” next month.

Brandon Vogt applauds a new film about St Augustine of Hippo, which “depicts his early promiscuity and partying in stark clarity”.

And Sandro Magister reveals that the Vatican was involved in a running battle with porcupines and red weevils last year.

For updates throughout the day follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen