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Texas’ heartbeat law is in effect again, after a ruling by a federal court. The law restricts abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is around six weeks gestation. The law is still the subject of an ongoing court fight.
The pope’s recent restrictions on traditional liturgy are unpopular among regularly practicing Catholics, but most American Catholics have not even heard of the changes. That’s according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. The survey found that about 58% of Catholics who attended Mass weekly had heard about the restrictions. Regular Mass attendees were the most skeptical of the restrictions.
Pope Francis met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday. Pelosi has clashed repeatedly with the archbishop of her home diocese, over her support for abortion. The Vatican has not announced what the pair discussed during their meeting.
On Sunday, Pope Francis formally launched the two year, global consultation process that will culminate in the synod on synodality in 2023. The pope prayed that Catholics taking part in the synodal path should strive to become experts in the art of encounter. He encouraged Catholics to devote more time to prayer, and adoration, listening to what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church. The diocesan consultation phase will run through April of 2022. Then a continental phase will begin.
Today, the Church honors Pope Saint John XXIII. Pope John XXIII was elected in 1958. He is remembered for his pastoral heart, and for convoking the Second Vatican Council in 1962.