10 Facts About Daniel Coughlin

Daniel Coughlin was the first Catholic to serve in the position, and the process that led to his selection included some controversy.

Daniel Coughlin was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 3,1960.

From 1985 to 1990 Daniel Coughlin was pastor at St Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange, Illinois.

Daniel Coughlin then became Director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, Illinois.

Daniel Coughlin's role was, in his words, a "pastor for priests," helping priests "comply with whatever protocols the archdiocese mandated," rather than making decisions about how accused priests should be managed.

Daniel Coughlin has served on numerous national and international committees focusing on the subjects of spirituality and renewal in prayer, and served as a scholar-in-residence at the North American College in Rome.

Daniel Coughlin is a contributor to "The Spiritual Renewal of the American Priesthood," a publication of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Daniel Coughlin has sometimes referred to the "House family," to which he offers pastoral care regardless of the religions of its members and staffers, or whether individuals identify with a religious faith at all.

For example, during the 110th Congress, when six House members died, Daniel Coughlin sensed the pain of Congress, even while he worked with families and ceremonies linked to this unusually high number of deaths.

Daniel Coughlin has spoken of a special pain on the part of Catholic members during debates within the Catholic Church over withholding Holy Communion from public officials whose votes were interpreted as being antithetical to Church teaching.