It’s hat’s off (or perhaps hat’s on?) this morning to Tim Dolan, archbishop of New York, who was one of 22 men named a cardinal this morning by Pope Benedict XVI. The other American in the mix is Edwin O’Brien, the former archbishop of Baltimore and now working to protect Christians in the Holy Land.

Dolan (that’s him, in the mitre), O’Brien and the others will get their red hats on Feb. 18. And they’ll get to use their vote to elect the next pope … well, that’s still unclear.

Vaticanista John Allen has his take on the new cardinals here. Noticeably absent from the list: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Dublin, who’s been passed over before — many believe because he’s been outspoken in his criticism of the way the church handled the sex abuse scandal.

Out on the trail, a conservative Catholic PAC has endorsed Rick Santorum for president. Speaking of Santorum, he says we “always need a Jesus candidate,” and continued to push the slippery slope gay marriage-will-lead-to-polygamy line to a skeptical college audience.

Up in Connecticut, Catholic officials are launching a new chapter of Courage, which aims to help gays and lesbians be “accepted, affirmed and supported” — as long as they remain celibate.

Seattle megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll — never known to be shy about speaking his mind — is getting grief over his new book (co-written with his wife, Grace) about sex and women. One blogger breathlessly calls it “an astoundingly unbelievable work of disrespect for women.”

Islam (support or criticism thereof) remains a touchy third rail on U.S. college campuses. And more than four in 10 Americans report that they have little time or use for things spiritual.

Down in North Carolina, collector William McNeill says his collection of more than 400 church fans is a window to a sweeter (and less air-conditioned) past.

Six people were killed when gunmen stormed a church in Nigeria and sprayed the place with bullets.

And birthday wishes to St. Joan of Arc — she turns a nice round 600 today. French President Nicholas Sarkozy stopped by to wish her a happy birthday, and to say she “belongs to no party, no faction, no clan. Joan is what France has singularly, and most universally.”

And with that, happy weekend, y’all …

Kevin “I wish I could be as witty as Jack Jenkins” Eckstrom