The family Planning Association has been allowed to submit more evidence in its High Court test of Northern Ireland's abortion law.
Mr Justice Kerr has given the Catholic Bishops until next week to submit their evidence.
The judicial review will then be back in court on October 17th.
Mr Justice Kerr told yesterday's brief High Court hearing that he would then set a firm date for the full judicial review.
He will rule on whether anti-abortion groups - the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC), Precious Life and Care and Life - can join the bishops as "third parties" in the case.
The Family Planning Association says the aim of its legal action is not to extend the British abortion Act to Northern Ireland.
It says it merely wants the court to order the Department of Health to publish clear guidelines on the provision of terminations under existing law.