On Twitter, Cardinal Burke said he had urged the institute to return to its original purpose of promoting the respect of human dignity but “it has not done so.”

The prelates noted that Christians "are an authentic component and founder" in Syria and Iraq. They called for solidarity among all citizens to build peace, hope and unity.

The Rimmers’ visit brought headlines and an apology from the dean of the chapel and inspired a debate about how churches treat children and adults with autism after Rimmer was asked to remove 9-year-old Tristan, who has autism, for making too much noise.

The president of the Australian bishops' conference told his fellow bishops that it is "a time of humiliation" for Catholic Church leaders, but he is convinced that God is still at work.

Authorities on Monday were trying to determine what caused a bus carrying a New Mexico high school church group home from a weekend retreat in Denver to veer off the highway and crash, killing two people and injuring at least 13 others.

The Supreme Court, citing racial bias in the prosecutor's jury selection, overturned the death sentence of a Mississippi African American man who had been tried six times for a quadruple murder charge.