"We condemn the offenses committed by monks, priests and their colleagues in our dioceses,” the bishops said in a statement on Feb. 25.

The president of the country's bishops’ conference said, “We ache for our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives."

If King Juan Carlos of Spain signs a new law easing abortion restrictions, a church official said that no action would be taken against him.

Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff, Wales, praised the director of public prosecutions for removing some of the most troubling provisions.

“The American people are tired of partisan bickering and want lawmakers to find common ground," said Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Health Association.

Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki of drought-afflicted Marsabit, Kenya, said his diocese has been struggling with the “deadly effects of global warming for years now.”