Dioceses nationwide are taking precautions to guard against the spread of the coronavirus and reminding parishioners to take commonsense steps related to hygiene in their personal lives.

His statement came in response to angry reaction to the Mass by Robert Hoatson, co-founder of Road to Recovery, an sexual abuse victims' advocacy group.

Christian leaders in New Delhi have condemned the communal violence in the Indian capital and asked churches to open their doors to victims of the riots.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, by a 7-4 vote has upheld the Trump administration's "Protect Life Rule" which enforces the Title X rule banning taxpayer funds for abortion and or abortion as family planning.

The bill would protect newborns who survive abortions by requiring appropriate care and admission to a hospital.

"You could see his consternation when he said that for some people it was all about celibacy and not about the Amazon," said Bishop William A. Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee.

In remote rural swathe known as the Wild West of Honduras, said to be a bandits' hideout where it is "easy to get in, tough to get out," the church finds itself once again at the forefront of a movement for justice.

The threat of spreading the coronavirus has forced Catholic officials in Hong Kong to suspend all church programs Feb. 15-28, including Sunday Masses and the Ash Wednesday liturgy that marks the beginning of Lent.

"The time has come for Christians to have a stronger, broader voice in government so that the challenges of poverty and violence can be overcome," Bishop Kukah said.

The German bishops are due to hold their next regularly scheduled elections at the spring full assembly in early March in Mainz.