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U.S. Catholic ∙ Vol. 75, No. 10 ∙ October 2010

COVER STORY

The need for closure: When a parish shuts its doors
The death of a parish is traumatic enough, but grief can turn to anger when members feel foul play was involved, writes J. D. Long-García. But even if the end is inevitable, there are ways to prevent the pointing of fingers.
Sidebar: Merging parishes with a minimum of misery
WEB ONLY! Non-parishable goods: Bryan Cones offers another option to closing parishes. See story for other news and commenatary on parish closings.

FEATURE

Act II
While the incarcerated women of the Persephone Project may never see their names in lights, theater is bringing them a new confidence fame could never deliver, writes Tara Dix Osborne in this photo story.
WEB ONLY! Slideshow of Persephone Project (to come)

ESSAY

Put in a good word
Rosy remembrances of the dead may not be true to life, writes Patrick Gallagher, but they may be true healing for the living.

FALL BOOK ISSUE

Used books
U.S. Catholic readers love to, well, read, from magazines to blogs to books, books, books, writes Assistant Editor Meghan Murphy-Gill in this Reader Survey. They've bookmarked the authors who keep them turning pages.
WEB ONLY! Reading list: recommendations from U.S. Catholic readers

Read into it
We know that God comes to us in sacraments and scripture, writes Colleen Mary Carpenter, but that favorite novel may be a window to the divine as well.

She's Nobody
Emily Dickinson may have found it dreary to be Somebody, but Joan Sauro, C.S.J. still finds her worthy of remembrance.

Who wants to be a Bible scholar?
While they can't offer you a million-dollar prize, Paul Boudreau and Alice Camille promise your reward will be great in heaven if you can score high on their test of Holy Writ.
WEB ONLY! Bible quiz, genius edition

Southern misfit
Georgia writer Flannery O'Connor was no shrinking violet, writes Ted Rosean in Wise Guides. Not only did she have an uncanny ability to look evil in the face, she could see right through it to the grace that cannot be overcome.

DEPARTMENTS

Editors' Note
You May Be Right Letters
Signs of the Times News
Catholic Tastes
Culture in Context: Reviews
Glad You Asked: Does the church still ban books?
At Home with Our Faith
Eye of the Beholder 
Jerry Bleem, O.F.M.

COLUMNS

The Examined Life - Bryan Cones
Will the center hold?
Margin Notes - Kevin Clarke
Born in the U.S.A.
Culture in Context - Patrick McCormick
Eat, pay, work
Testaments - Alice Camille
The gospel truth