Pope Paul VI could be beatified in 2013 if members of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints signal their approval at a crucial meeting on December 11. Chad has expelled the Italian-born Bishop Michele Russo after he criticised ties between politicians and the oil industry. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs has said that US vice-president Joe Biden "ought not to be receiving Communion" because of his support for abortion (transcript). Philippa Hitchen is puzzled why "a four-year-old, fear-mongering presentation of statistics attempting to show how Islam is conquering Europe" was screened at the synod of bishops. Stacy Trasancos wonders why Catholics are praising the work of Dr Shinya Yamanaka, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on stem cells last week. Alexander Stille, a journalism professor at Columbia University, argues that the trial of Paolo Gabriele did nothing to improve transparency at the Vatican. And Fr James Martin SJ urges Catholics to wear purple on Friday in solidarity with bullied gay and lesbian youth. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.