In the first episode of 2012, the panel chats about Pope Benedict’s speech to bishops from New Zealand and the Pacific, his speech to the dozens of ambassadors to the Vatican and the surging Catholic candidate for the Republican presidential candidate. We also talk about the “head-hunting” of an Australian priest to be the new rector of the New Zealand diocesan seminary. For some additional reading, here’s a link to a piece on former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. And for some additional listening, here’s an ABC Radio interview with Msgr Peter Jeffrey.