The "note of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the importance of the internal forum and the inviolability of the sacramental seal" was approved by Pope Francis June 21 and published by the Vatican July 1.
As researchers report a nationwide surge in hate crimes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress is giving law enforcement funding to adopt both stronger hate crime policies and more accurate data collection.
"There are supposed to be exceptions that are not being respected," said Bishop Seitz, who spoke with immigration officials about allowing the family to enter.
The policy says the diocese's structures and institutions are to identify themselves only with "the names of saints, the mysteries of the faith, the titles of Our Lord or of Our Lady, or the place where the ministry has been established."