Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bills May 25, saying he has kept his promise to voters to "sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk."

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and several others pleaded not guilty in a Hong Kong court to charges of failing to properly register a now-defunct fund to help anti-government protesters.

A Vatican-approved Chinese bishop remains in detention more than one year after his arrest for allegedly violating the communist country's repressive regulations on religious affairs.

At least 320 of the estimated 350 households in the historic Catholic village of Chaung Yoe were burned during a military raid May 20, local sources told ucanews.com.

The Parliament of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, has passed a law allowing people to choose assisted dying under certain circumstances. It was the last of the country's six states to enact such legislation.

Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, was set to visit Ukraine May 18-20, meeting with church and government officials, people displaced by the war and towns destroyed by Russian bombings.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, urged prayers for Hong Kong after the detention of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired bishop of Hong Kong, reassured Catholics he is fine after being detained and held by national security police for his support of anti-government protesters.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith appealed for peace as clashes broke out in the island nation after the prime minister quit amid a worsening economic crisis, reported ucanews.com.