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The Vatican said today that Pope Francis is making regular and satisfactory progress in his recovery from surgery. The pope underwent an operation on his colon on July 4th. A Vatican spokesperson said the pope was moved by the many messages he’s received since his surgery.
Abortion advocates are preparing for a potential reversal of Roe v Wade. The 1973 Supreme Court ruling struck down a state abortion ban and legalized abortion nationwide. The Supreme Court is considering Mississippi’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks, and the court may send the question of legal abortion back to the states. Some pro-abortion groups are reportedly organizing to provide surgical or chemical abortions, in the event Roe is overturned and future state abortion bans are enacted
The Diocese of Burlington in Vermont has reported a record-low number of priests this year, with only 50 diocesan priests ministering to the entire state. Several international priests serving in the diocese had to return to their home countries, after their visas were set to expire. Burlington’s bishop transferred and reassigned a significant number of priests to compensate for the priest shortage.
A Catholic priest in Nigeria has been abducted by suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorist group. The priest has been missing since June 30th. There has been no official communication with the priest’s kidnappers. The abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings in Nigeria that appear to target Christians, including priests.
Today is the feast day of Saint Pope Benedict the Eleventh. The saint was born in Italy in 1240. He entered the Dominican order at the age of 14. He was pope for only one year, and during his pontificate he restored peace with the French court.