Pro-life groups in states surrounding Texas prepare for increased abortion demand (OSV) As Texas’ “heartbeat law” gains national attention, pro-life organizations in the states that border Texas are preparing for the likely increase in demand for abortions in their states. “They are already crossing,” said Ethel Rose Maharg, executive director of New Mexico’s Right to Life Committee in reference to women from Texas who, she says, have crossed to New Mexico after the Texas law went into effect on Sept. 1. “We have received information that at least 78 abortions were performed in a clinic near [Texas]…”

Vaccinated bishops contract COVID in Philippines (UCANews) At least two Catholic bishops in the Philippines have contracted the coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated. Manila archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula and Bishop Jose Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos Diocese in Negros Occidental province canceled all Masses and public engagements because they were in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19. Reports say they had received the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine…

O’Malley: Sexual abuse crisis requires “pastoral conversion” (Vatican News) “Listening to, acknowledging survivors and sincerely seeking their pardon are indispensable steps on this journey of renewal.” Cardinal Seán O’Malley kicked off a 4-day conference in Warsaw with that exhortation to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which the Cardinal heads up, is holding the event on 19-22 September under the theme: “Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God’s Children…”

Notre Dame is secure; rebuilding to start (AP) France’s Notre Dame Cathedral is finally stable and secure enough for artisans to start rebuilding it, more than two years after the shocking fire that tore through its roof, knocked down its spire and threatened to bring the rest of the medieval monument down, too. The government agency overseeing the reconstruction announced in a statement Saturday that the works to secure the structure — which began the day after the April 15, 2019 fire — are at last complete…

Assembly to address future of Latin American church (NCR) Tens of thousands of Catholics throughout Latin America and the Caribbean — and some in the United States — have been discussing issues ranging from missionary discipleship to integral ecology as part of a “listening” process leading up to a regionwide ecclesial assembly to be held Nov. 21-28 in Mexico City…

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