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.

A new survey finds that Catholics in the US are making up their own minds about social and moral concerns. As one of the authors of the survey, William D’Antonio, said, American Catholics like being Catholic but they like to do it on their own terms.

Since Congress repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell last December, more than one million US troops have taken instruction in the new policy. But some military chaplains are raising concerns.

A new study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice rules out celibacy and homosexuality as causes of the Catholic sexual abuse crisis.

Join our discussion of the most anticipated religion and ethics news in 2011, from social and cultural issues to the political and economic debates that loom ahead.

Look back at excerpts from our conversations with reporters over the past 10 years on religion and its changing role in the world.

Religion and politics, interfaith relations, humanitarian disasters, war and peace. Watch the members of our annual reporters roundtable assess the most important religion and ethics news of the past year.

There is debate and discussion going on within religious communities about rhetoric, teachings, tolerance and anti-gay sentiments in society.

Should hateful and offensive speech that is religiously motivated be accepted as legitimate public discourse protected by the Constitution?

"The church has to open itself to hear the wisdom of its laity" says Rev. Patrick Lee, who leads two Catholic parishes in Chicago.