Peter Feuerherd

The Field Hospital:Chicago Catholic identity shift; increasing number of Latino Catholics doesn't always mean an end to parish woes; former church is a hospice now; D.C. under church influence; the naming of annual fundraisers matters

John J. Hurley, the first lay president of Canisius College, has joined eight other prominent local Catholics and donors to form The Movement to Restore Trust Initiative, which seeks changes in the Diocese of Buffalo. 

The Field Hospital: Detroit Archdiocese criticized for what is perceived as a dodge on sex abuse litigation; it also apologized for a priest's questionable homily for a person who died by suicide; Eleanor Sauers is one of a handful of parish life coordinators who run church administration while priests celebrate sacraments; the places Spanish-language Mass are held in Cincinnati are in bad shape 

On Dec. 8, a commissioning ceremony was held here for 13 new Maryknoll missioners, who received their symbolic mission crosses before embarking early next year to Bolivia, China, El Salvador, Haiti, Kenya and Tanzania.

Beyond the intra-church skirmishing, much of the Church Militant operation acts like any other news operation, but it remains a counterweight to the widespread consensus that has emerged in much of the Christian world.

The Field Hospital: The Sacramento Diocese and Knights of Columbus aid fire recovery; parish closings in Philadelphia and Chicago; consolation ministers support the grieving.

Jeffrey Sachs, whom Time magazine once dubbed "the world's best known economist," can rattle off the names and impacts of papal social encyclicals as well as any Catholic theologian. The documents, he says, reinforced his early studies at Harvard.

"Measuring and Ranking Diocesan Online Financial Transparency" charted 177 dioceses across the United States, and discovered that most were not open about their financial statements.

Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao, India, is on the frontlines of a post-Vatican II church which seeks out the gifts of laity. His diocese is growing amid turbulent times for the church in India.

The Field Hospital: Pittsburgh Catholics offer symbolic, financial support to their neighbors at Tree of Life Synagogue; pastor resigns as diocese investigates 'financial irregularities'; and more

At Fordham and Georgetown, experts in ecclesiology, law and psychology explored the depths of the issues that confront the church and offered possible pathways forward.

The Diocese of Sioux City admitted Oct. 31 that it concealed for years admitted abuse by a priest. One of the bishops during that period was Daniel DiNardo, now president of the U.S. bishops' conference.

The Field Hospital: Hurricane recovery; celebrating St. Romero; Catholics do Bible study, too; looking for local artists

The Field Hospital: An anonymous supporter of church reform went the whole Martin Luther, pinning 21 theses on the door of St. Peter Cathedral in Erie, Pennsylvania, Sept. 13., calling for, among other things, more lay involvement.

The Field Hospital: Portland Catholics explore ways to help the homeless; questioning cry rooms; parish copes with reconfiguration, sex abuse fallout; comeback for old-time devotions.

The Field Hospital: Deacon Don Zirkel wrote to Bishop Barres of Rockville Centre, New York, suggesting they go on the road around the diocese, talking up responsible parenthood and the joy of marriage.

The Voice of the Faithful conference Oct. 6 was called timely by the organization's president, Mary Pat Fox, who welcomed about 300 participants and said, "We have found ourselves in another Earth-shattering moment." 

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility has been trying to convince corporate investors and executives of that wider picture for nearly 50 years.

The Field Hospital: "There are benefits to being involved in a church community," says the lead researcher, who posits an explanation: Greater social connection leads to better health.