“When we say grace we are grateful for the food on our plates. But where did that food travel? Who picked it? How did it get to us? As people of faith we are called to think about that.”

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.

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.

"The government is trying to tell us what we can or can’t do in terms of works of mercy, works of charity, which are fundamental to our faith," says Father Tom Ackerman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham.

"The [Mormon] church has become a worldwide church and its interests now extend far beyond Utah, and it has to meet the expectations of its worldwide audience," says Ron Mortensen, founder of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration.

“For most of the French, religion was an enemy of democracy, liberalization, freedom,” says this political scientist who specializes in Islamic studies, and “a synonym for public disorder.”

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.

A new state law could shut down the city of Tucson’s high school ethnic studies program. The state superintendent says ethnic studies divides students by race. Supporters say it teaches mutual respect and fosters a commitment to democracy.

On Dec. 14 religious leaders held a prayer summit and Jericho March on Capitol Hill to urge senators to vote for a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country by their parents and who go on to attend college or serve in the military.

The freedom Jews have experienced in America, says curator Josh Perelman, "also makes possible the ultimate choice, which is not to be Jewish."