"What’s wrong with this picture: 50 miles north of here is possibly the worst human rights situation, including Christian persecution in the entire world, and here we are in South Korea living a lifestyle that’s probably on par with the United States and Europe," says pastor Tim Peters, a missionary in South Korea.

"There seems to be a theme in the album, not intentional, and it’s funny because for somebody who is not a religious person, God comes up a lot in my songs," says legendary singer/songwriter Paul Simon.

The congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal in New Orleans, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, is now helping handicapped children in Haiti, survivors of the earthquake there. "It was clear right away the connection between New Orleans and Haiti," says Rev. Scott Albergate.

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We discuss the major religion and ethics stories anticipated in 2012, including religion in the upcoming elections, faith-based activity in the budget debates and immigration policy, key religion cases before the Supreme Court and mainline denominations and issues of homosexuality.

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We discuss the major religion and ethics stories of the past year in the U.S. and abroad with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Religion News Service editor Kevin Eckstrom and Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly managing editor Kim Lawton.

Watch a slideshow showing some of the prominent people in the world of religion who passed away in 2011.

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The elite St. Olaf choir is considered a pioneer in America’s a capella choral tradition. And for one hundred years, this small Lutheran college in Minnesota has done a Christmas concert that has become known—and loved—around the world.