Ethan Walker
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States, founded in 1927 by Matthew J. Smith. It is currently owned by the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. of Irondale, Alabama, which also owns the Catholic News Agency. The Register has been rated by Ad Fontes Media as having a right bias and mixed reliability due to poor sourcing and the promotion of pseudoscience. Media Bias/Fact Check also rates the publication as right-biased and mixed for factual reporting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bias | Right-leaning conservative bias |
| Factual Reporting | Mixed |
| Political Position | Conservative |
| Language | Moderately loaded emotional language |
| Reporting Style | Does not always report the news factually |
| Circulation | 112,000 in 1970 |
| Owner | EWTN Global Catholic Network, a non-profit |
| Reach | Available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories |
| Readership | Tens of thousands of active lay Catholics along with over 800 priests, 160 bishops, 40 archbishops and 30 Vatican officials |
| Awards | "General Excellence" award from the Catholic Press Association in the category of national news publications six times between 2008 and 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
The National Catholic Register's political leanings
The National Catholic Register is a news media source that has been rated as "Right-Biased" by Ad Fontes Media and AllSides. These ratings indicate that the outlet's content strongly aligns with conservative, traditional, or right-wing thought and/or policy agendas. The outlet is owned by the EWTN Global Catholic Network, which describes itself as the world's largest Catholic news organization, with television, radio, print, and digital media outlets.
The National Catholic Register covers national and international news, often focusing on conservative issues such as abortion and politics. The outlet has been criticized for using moderately loaded emotional language in its articles and headlines. It has also been noted that they frequently favor anti-abortion and anti-fetal tissue measures in their reporting. They have expressed mixed feelings about President Joe Biden, recognizing his Catholic faith but reporting negatively on his abortion positions.
In terms of scientific reporting, the National Catholic Register has been known to go against the consensus on certain topics, such as evolution. They have also promoted pseudoscience, such as the debunked link between abortion and breast cancer. The outlet's factual reporting has been rated as "Mixed" due to poor sourcing and the promotion of pseudoscience.
Overall, the National Catholic Register caters to a conservative audience and leans towards the political right in its editorial positions and story selection. It aligns with the political leanings of a significant portion of Catholic voters in the United States, who tend to be divided between the Republican and Democratic parties, with a slight lean towards the Republicans.
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The Register's reliability and factual reporting
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States that was founded in 1927 by Matthew J. Smith as the national edition of the Denver Catholic Register. The Register's current owner is the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. (EWTN) of Irondale, Alabama, which also owns the Catholic News Agency. The Register is part of EWTN News, Inc., the world's largest Catholic news organization, which includes television, radio, print, and digital media outlets. The Register is dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, the Register has also been praised for its timely news reporting from across the United States, the Vatican, and around the world. The Register includes news and features on various topics, including culture, education, books, arts, entertainment, and interviews. The Register's website, NCRegister.com, claims to provide America's most complete and faithful Catholic news source. The Register has also taken a stand on certain issues, such as calling for the resignation of a priest found guilty of failing to report suspected child abuse. Additionally, the Register has won the "General Excellence" award from the Catholic Press Association in the category of national news publications six times between 2008 and 2014.
Overall, while the National Catholic Register has been criticized for ideological bias and questionable factual reporting, it also has a track record of providing timely and award-winning news coverage from a Catholic perspective. Ad Fontes Media rates the National Catholic Register as having a "right-skew" bias and "mixed reliability" in terms of factual reporting. Their bias rating considers the language used, the political position, and how the content compares to other reporting or analysis from other sources on the same topic. The reliability rating considers various factors, including the use of original fact reporting, analysis, opinion, propaganda, and inaccurate or fabricated information.
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The Register's ownership and history
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States. It was founded on November 8, 1927, by Monsignor Matthew J. Smith as the national edition of the Denver Catholic Register, the official weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Denver. The paper's first editor, Msgr. Smith, wrote in the inaugural issue:
> If you like a Catholic paper with snap, vigor, courage, here it is. If you like one that is easy to read, here it is. If you like one that will always be loyal to the Church and has no selfish axe to grind, here it is.
The Register System of Newspapers, developed under Msgr. Smith, eventually produced 35 diocesan editions, reaching its high point in the 1950s with a combined national and diocesan circulation of over 700,000. After Msgr. Smith's death in 1960, the chain entered a period of decline. By 1970, the chain had been dismantled, with each diocesan edition being transferred back to local diocesan management. In 1970, California businessman Patrick Frawley purchased the declining newspaper and later moved it to Los Angeles.
In 1995, a group of investors, along with the Legionaries of Christ, saved the newspaper from closing and moved it to New England. The Legionaries of Christ owned the paper until 2011 when it was acquired by the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. (EWTN), based in Irondale, Alabama. EWTN is the world's largest Catholic news organisation, comprising television, radio, print and digital media outlets. EWTN also owns the Catholic News Agency.
The Register's print edition is published biweekly (26 times a year). Tom Wehner has been the managing editor since 2009. Jeanette DeMelo became editor-in-chief in 2012. She was succeeded by Shannon Mullen in January 2023. In 2017, the Catholic Press Association named the Register Newspaper of the Year. In 2021, the Register had an average print circulation of 43,117.
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The Register's relationship with the Catholic Church
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States that was founded on November 8, 1927, by Matthew J. Smith of the Archdiocese of Denver. It was founded as the national edition of the Denver Catholic Register, the official weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Denver. The Register is currently owned by the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. (EWTN), a nonprofit based in Irondale, Alabama. EWTN is the world's largest Catholic news organization, with television, radio, print, and digital media outlets.
The Register has a stated mission "to provide a perspective on the news of the day as seen through the eyes of the Magisterium." It aims to assist Catholics in engaging with the culture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In its inaugural issue, Msgr. Smith wrote:
> If you like a Catholic paper with snap, vigor, courage, here it is. If you like one that is easy to read, here it is. If you like one that will always be loyal to the Church and has no selfish axe to grind, here it is.
The Register covers national and international news, including topics such as culture, education, books, arts, entertainment, and interviews. It also includes feature articles on the Culture of Life, Catholic education, travel, and its award-winning "In Person" interview series. The publication takes pride in its loyalty to the Catholic Church, and its content reflects this orientation.
In terms of bias and credibility, the National Catholic Register has been rated as having a right-leaning conservative bias. It frequently favors anti-abortion and anti-fetal tissue research positions and has been criticized for promoting pseudoscience and poor sourcing. During the church sex abuse scandals of the 2000s, the paper was criticized for downplaying allegations against Legionary founder Marcial Maciel and defending him in its editorial pages. However, in 2010, the paper's publisher issued an apology for its coverage of the scandal.
While the National Catholic Register maintains its loyalty to the Catholic Church, it is important to approach its content with a critical eye, particularly regarding its bias and sourcing.
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The Register's audience and reach
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States. It was founded in 1927 by Monsignor Matthew Smith of the Archdiocese of Denver as the national edition of the Denver Catholic Register. The Register's current owner is the Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. (EWTN), of Irondale, Alabama, which also owns the Catholic News Agency. EWTN is the world's largest Catholic news organisation, with television, radio, print, and digital media outlets. It is available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories.
The Register has a biweekly print edition published 26 times a year, as well as online content, including blogs and breaking news. The newspaper covers national and international news, focusing on conservative issues such as abortion and politics, and also features articles on culture, education, books, arts, entertainment, and interviews. The Register's mission is to "provide a perspective on the news of the day as seen through the eyes of the Magisterium" and assist Catholics in engaging with the culture and the Gospel.
The Register has a diverse audience, including tens of thousands of active lay Catholics, over 800 priests, 160 bishops, 40 archbishops, and 30 Vatican officials. It has been recognised as America's most complete and faithful Catholic news source, providing its readers with timely news reporting from the United States, the Vatican, and worldwide.
The Register's reach extends beyond its print and online editions, as it is also a part of the larger EWTN network, which includes television, radio, and other digital media platforms. This allows the Register's content to reach a wider audience, including those who may not typically engage with print or online news sources. The EWTN network's extensive presence in multiple countries and territories further enhances the potential reach of the Register's content.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Catholic Register is a Catholic newspaper in the United States. It was founded in 1927 by Msgr. Matthew Smith of the Archdiocese of Denver. The newspaper covers national and international news, focusing on conservative issues relating to Catholicism, such as abortion and politics.
Yes, the National Catholic Register has a right-wing bias and promotes a conservative perspective. It has been accused of reporting pseudoscience and poor sourcing.
The National Catholic Register has been criticised for ideological bias. It has also been accused of downplaying allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. However, it is still considered by some to be America's most complete and faithful Catholic news source.
