Catholic organizations called for greater personal responsibility in tackling climate change and stepped up their advocacy in opposing the rollback of U.S. environmental regulations during the last year.

Pope Francis' repeated invitations to practice mercy and charity have become the focus of efforts to defuse the widespread polarization that has wracked society and has crossed into Catholic circles.

The Supreme Court's past year will probably be remembered more for the shakeup at the bench than for specific rulings.

2018 will no doubt be remembered as a dark time for the U.S. Catholic Church.

Pope Francis marked the fifth anniversary of his election in March in the midst of a firestorm over his handling of clerical sexual abuse and bishops' accountability in Chile.

The year may be coming to an end but the battles on the immigration front promise to continue well into 2019 and beyond.