Morning Catholic must-reads: 18/02/11

Benedict XVI and the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a “cordial” meeting at the Vatican yesterday (video).

Bishop Christopher Budd of Plymouth will ordain the former Anglican bishop David Silk to the priesthood today.

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops have called reality TV shows an “attack on the human dignity of participants“.

Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of Lima has officially recognised the Marian Fraternity of Reconciliation as a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right.

The Vatican’s finances are showing “clear signs of recovery“, the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Questions of the Apostolic See said yesterday (full text).

Michael Sean Winters calls for Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia to resign.

Phil Lawler says that Archbishop Timothy Dolan is unwise to dismiss claims that he hid millions of dollars as Archbishop of Milwaukee as “malarkey”.

Tony Blair says there are more practising Catholics in China than in Italy.

Elizabeth Hansen considers the Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See’s claim that western media coverage is harming Christians in Iraq.

Fr Joseph Komonchak questions the latest figures on the celebration of the Extraordinary Form in the United States.

Fr David Poecking at First Things responds to William Oddie’s critique of ARCIC III.

The Catholic Truth Society’s blog presents the design of the cover of the new Missal.

Professor Richard Beck argues that Facebook has killed the Church.

And Zenit advises you to “beware of anyone offering you a private audience with the Holy Father”.