While Mr. Tennes’s attorneys argued that their client was being targeted because of his religious beliefs, Mr. Bogren said that discrimination against same-sex couples is not protected by religious liberty statutes. He compared discrimination against gay people to prejudice against racial minorities.

The presence of militant Islamist groups in the Congo such as ISIS is complicating the work of medical personnel in combating the Ebola virus epidemic, which has been rampant for the last 40 months.

The Catholic bishops of Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia are concerned about the increasing violence among herders, who are using sophisticated weapons such as AK-47s to protect their cattle against raids.

The Polish bishops' administrative council met in emergency session May 22 and later admitted the church failed to act against clerical sexual abuse.

"This event was most traumatic for those who were present in the building at the time, as some of the approximate 40 law enforcement agents approached employees in ski masks and SWAT gear," Bishop Burns said in the statement.

During his installation ceremony as the new archbishop of Washington, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory acknowledged the struggles that have recently impacted the Catholic Church and urged Catholic leaders and laity not to lose faith.