Remains of first Korean martyrs recovered (AFP) The remains of the first Korean Catholic martyrs have been recovered, church officials said Wednesday, 230 years after they were executed and seven years since they were beatified. The discovery was “a truly surprising and monumental event”, said Bishop John Kim Son-tae, head of the Jeonju Diocese…

Texas near-ban on abortions takes effect (The New York Times) The Supreme Court did not take action early Wednesday on a request to block a Texas law prohibiting most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, allowing the most restrictive abortion law in the nation to go into effect…

Masses in Extraordinary Form suspended at North American College (CNA) In a memo sent to “the Community ” at the North American College (NAC), Rector Fr. Peter Harman announced that all Masses in the Extraordinary form will be permanently suspended at the most important American Catholic institution in Rome. Also, according to the memo to which CNA had access, the celebration of the Extraordinary Form will no longer be taught to seminarians…

In wide-ranging interview, pope speaks of Afghanistan, Latin Mass, more (Crux) In the latest wide-ranging interview, Pope Francis speaks about the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, his health and resignation rumors, the Vatican’s corruption trial against several people including one of his former closest advisers, and his decision to limit the use of the Tridentine Mass…

Harvard Catholic Center responds to atheist chaplain reports (CNA) The Harvard Catholic Center on Monday clarified reports of the university’s new atheist “chief chaplain,” saying the position is administrative and will not affect the center’s Catholic mission…

Laywoman appointed to lead Vatican Latin American commission (CNS) Pope Francis appointed Argentine theologian Emilce Cuda as the new head of office of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a position she assumes Sept. 1. A laywoman and mother of two, Cuda will work with the new secretary, Rodrigo Guerra López, a Mexican philosophy professor and also a layman. Cuda’s nomination was seen in the South American country as a sign of Pope Francis’ ongoing struggle against clericalism and as an important step to increase women’s presence in the church hierarchy…