The government is seeking public comments on how to comply with moral objections to contraceptive coverage.

"My mother gave me the greatest gift a mother can give a child. She gave me the gift of my Catholic faith," Piazza said.

"This is the story of Los Angeles, the story of the state of California and the story of our country—which is a nation of immigrants," said Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.

Today, more than half of U.S. millennial Catholics—ages 14 to 34—are Hispanic as are two-thirds of Catholics under 35 who attend church regularly.

"Words cannot express the emotions we feel for those who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of this day," Bishop Muench said.

"While human trafficking always exploits the vulnerable, the trafficking of children and youth exploits those most vulnerable of all."

The U.S. bishops argue that the act closes loopholes that are allowing states to mandate abortions be performed or covered by Catholic and other faith-based health care providers.

The National Black Catholic Congress issued a prayer and call to action on July 13 following a week of violence across the United States.

Cardinal Nichols: "I look forward to working with you across a wide range of issues in service of the common good."

The bill is "a modest but important step in ensuring conscience protection to faith-based organizations and people of all faiths and of no faith who believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman."