The U.S. Justice Department in October announced that it is undertaking an investigation into accusations of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy in Pennsylvania.

A Virginia city’s attempt to make its public council meetings more inclusive got off to a rocky start in July when audience members prayed aloud during a new moment of silence.

Federal courts in late May delivered opinions affirming the rights and dignity of transgender students in two cases in which Americans United had filed friend-of-the-court briefs.