If a Catholic priest violates his vow of celibacy and fathers a child, he has "a moral obligation to step aside from ministry and provide for the care and needs of the mother and the child," said Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley.

"While 40 years have passed, I must say this: I'm sorry. To anyone who has been subjected to racism or bigotry, I am sorry. I have no excuse, but I hope you will forgive me."

An archbishop who inspected the Medjugorje shrine believes the Vatican will recognize the Marian apparitions, but Pope Francis has said of them, "This is not the mother of Jesus."

Images appeared on social media showing the word "murder" smeared in white paint on a statue of the 18th-century Franciscan priest who led the Catholic Church's missionary efforts among Native Americans on the West Coast.

The emphasis on priests in the Catholic church may have arisen from the Reformation, one priest said.

Church bells will be rung every night for three months to raise alarm over a sharp spike in police killings of drug suspects under President Rodrigo Duterte.