Michael Brooks
The Catholic Worker is a Christian anarchist publication founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. The debut edition of the newspaper was published on May Day in 1933, with 2,500 copies distributed at a price of one penny each. The publication is still active, with a stated price of one penny per copy and an annual subscription available for 25 cents. As of May 2023, it had approximately 26,000 subscribers. The Catholic Worker Movement has expanded to include 187 communities worldwide, with various newsletters and publications such as The Sower, The Catholic Radical, Simplicity, and Via Pacis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Still published as of 2025 |
| Format | Newspaper |
| Frequency | 7 issues per year |
| Circulation | 26,000 subscribers as of May 2023 |
| Price | 1 cent per copy, 25 cents for an annual subscription (30 cents for foreign subscriptions) |
| Founding | 1933 |
| Founders | Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin |
| Focus | Social activism, pacifism, social justice, anarchism, Christian orthodoxy |
| Communities | 180-187 communities worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Worker is still published as a newsletter and newspaper
The Catholic Worker is a Christian anarchist publication that was started by Dorothy Day in New York City in the 1930s. Day's social activism and Catholic religious traditions helped the poor, educated others about social injustices, and created and reformed social structures. The Catholic Worker newspaper was born when Day met Peter Maurin, who was the theorist of the publication. Day and Maurin founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, and it was rooted in the Gospel and the social teachings of the Catholic Church. The debut edition of the Catholic Worker was published on May Day in 1933, with 2,500 copies distributed. The paper was sold for a penny each, a price that has been maintained to this day.
The Catholic Worker newsletter and newspaper continue to carry out the mission of popularizing the encyclicals of the Popes regarding social justice and the reconstruction of the social order. The publication serves as a prophetic witness and a light in the darkness, making known that there are people deeply committed to the works of mercy and justice. The Catholic Worker communities practice self-deprecating honesty about their shortcomings while striving to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Worker has no headquarters, governing body, or official publication, and each community operates independently. However, Catholic Workers occasionally gather regionally and collaborate with one another. The closest thing to an official charter for the movement is the "Aims and Means" published by the New York Catholic Worker every May. This document expresses the aim of living according to the justice and charity of Jesus Christ and creating a society where it is easier for people to be good.
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It has around 26,000 subscribers as of May 2023
The Catholic Worker is a Christian anarchist publication that was first published in 1933. It was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin and is still regarded as having special status among other Catholic publications. The debut edition was distributed in Union Square, New York City, with 2,500 copies sold at a penny each. Day contributed extensively to its content, writing the majority of its eight pages.
The Catholic Worker has seen fluctuations in its circulation over the years. Between 1947 and early 1960, circulation varied between 47,000 and 65,000 readers. In 2020 and 2022, the publication maintained around 20,000 mail subscribers. As of May 2023, it has expanded to approximately 26,000 subscribers. This growth is significant, considering the collective movement's humble beginnings as a single newspaper in New York City.
The Catholic Worker has consciously opted against having a website or email presence. Instead, it continues to be manually laid out and distributed in print form, with an annual subscription priced at 25 cents for seven issues. Dorothy Day's commitment to social activism and Catholic religious traditions is reflected in the publication's enduring affordability and accessibility.
The Catholic Worker communities continue to carry out works of mercy and justice, with a focus on living out the Gospel and recreating the social order. They operate independently, occasionally gathering regionally and collaborating with other communities worldwide. The closest thing to an official charter for the movement is the "Aims and Means," published annually by the New York Catholic Worker. Dorothy Day's influence on the movement and its commitment to nonviolence and workers' rights remain core elements of its identity.
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It costs one penny per copy, with an annual subscription costing 25 cents
The Catholic Worker is a Christian anarchist publication that was started by Dorothy Day in New York City in 1933. Day, a recent convert to Catholicism, was influenced by Peter Maurin's ideas and wanted to build a society "where it is easier for people to be good". The Catholic Worker took the form of a newspaper and a single house in New York, but it has since expanded to 187 communities in a decentralised network, with around 26,000 subscribers as of May 2023.
The Catholic Worker is still published today and maintains its original pricing structure: one penny per copy, with an annual subscription costing 25 cents (30 cents for foreign subscriptions). This pricing strategy ensures that the publication is affordable for all readers. The paper is issued seven times per year, and any donations exceeding the subscription price go to the hospitality houses associated with the paper, such as Mary House and St. Joseph House. There are over 130 of these hospitality houses nationally and more than eight in foreign countries.
The Catholic Worker newspaper was an integral part of the broader Catholic Worker Movement, which was also founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. The movement is rooted in the Gospel and the social teachings of the Catholic Church, focusing on living out the works of mercy described in Matthew 25 to recreate the social order. Day's efforts with the Catholic Worker newspaper began as a broad social movement to aid the poor and promote nonviolent revolution. She contributed to the development of the Catholic Church and its role in societal needs, and her work with the Catholic Worker Movement is what she is best known for.
Day's commitment to nonviolence and pacifism was a core element of the Catholic Worker Movement. Her uncompromising stance brought the movement into crisis during World War II, as workers left, houses closed, and circulation of the paper dropped off drastically. However, her strong personality and dynamic faith guided the movement through various crises in its history.
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It is a Christian anarchist publication
The Catholic Worker is considered a Christian anarchist publication. It was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933 in New York City. Day, a recent convert to Catholicism, was influenced by Maurin's theories, which she implemented in her work.
The Catholic Worker newspaper was started as a broad social movement, rooted in the Gospel and the social teachings of the Catholic Church. It aimed to serve the poor and promote nonviolent revolution, challenging societal structures. Day's commitment to nonviolence led her to actively protest against the nuclear arms race, the Korean War, and other major conflicts of the time.
The Catholic Worker is known for its self-deprecating honesty and prophetic witness. It emphasizes each person's responsibility to personally live out the Gospel and recreate the social order. The publication covers a range of topics, including labor issues, pacifism, disarmament advocacy, and civil rights.
Today, the Catholic Worker movement continues its work of mercy and justice through approximately 180 communities worldwide, although it has no headquarters, governing body, or official publication. The original New York paper, still published as of 2023, is widely regarded as having special status within the movement.
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It was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. The Catholic Worker is considered a Christian anarchist publication. It is rooted in the Gospel and the social teachings of the Catholic Church, focusing on living out the works of mercy described in Matthew 25 to recreate the social order. Day and Maurin wanted to build a society "where it is easier for people to be good".
The Catholic Worker newspaper was started by Day in New York City in the 1930s. The debut edition was published on May Day in 1933, with 2,500 copies distributed at a penny each. The newspaper soon became a refuge for transients in search of a good meal and a clean bed. By 1938, 1,200 people relied on the Catholic Worker house for food. Day contributed extensively to the content of the newspaper, writing the majority of its eight pages. She also wrote several books, including a life of St. Therese of Lisieux, and her autobiography, 'The Long Loneliness', which is considered a classic.
Day and Maurin's movement faced resistance from average Catholics in America, who were apprehensive about its alignment with Church teachings and its resemblance to Communism during the Red Scare era. Day's unwavering commitment to nonviolence brought the Worker to a crisis during World War II, causing members to leave, houses to close, and circulation to drop. However, her strong personality and dynamic faith guided the movement through various crises.
Today, the Catholic Worker communities continue their work of mercy and justice, with approximately 180 communities worldwide. The newspaper still maintains its original price of one penny per copy, with an annual subscription available for 25 cents. As of May 2023, it has around 26,000 subscribers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Worker is still published. It was started by Dorothy Day in New York City in the 1930s and is still issued seven times per year.
The Catholic Worker has maintained a price of one penny per copy, with an annual subscription available for 25 cents (30 cents for foreign subscriptions).
The Catholic Worker is a Christian anarchist publication. It is considered the closest thing to an official charter for the Catholic Worker Movement, which focuses on living out the works of mercy described in Matthew 25 to recreate the social order.
The Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. It is a decentralized network of communities that collaborate worldwide to carry out the works of mercy and justice. The movement emphasizes each person's responsibility to live out the Gospel and create a society where it is easier for people to be good.
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