During the Saturday evening Mass when Father Looney heard the opening lines of the first reading from Jeremiah, the priest switched gears, deciding he had to say something about sexual abuse allegations against now former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington.

Big cases this year involved the president's travel ban, a same-sex wedding cake, gerrymandering, sports betting, cellphone tracking, union dues and pro-life pregnancy centers.

Kennedy is one of five Catholic justices on the Supreme Court.

In a 5-4 decision June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump's travel ban on people entering the U.S. from some Muslim-majority countries, saying the president's action was within his power.

A group of Catholic high school friends has kept in touch -- literally -- since graduating more than 30 years ago from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington.

"They are surfacing the issue forcefully and making the House deal with it," said William Canny.

Gaining a renewed and deeper understanding of Mary's nurturing and caring side is something he said the church, especially in today's climate, could certainly use.

The initiative will provide recommendations for faith-based programs to partner with the government to fight poverty.

Riordan, a Wells Fargo executive from New Mexico, was a "thoughtful leader who has long been a part of the fabric of our community."

Justices seemed skeptical about a law that requires pro-life pregnancy centers to visibly display information about abortions.