National Catholic Reporter
Encyclopedia
The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) is the second largest Catholic newspaper
in the United States
; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri
, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt
in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church. Hoyt wanted to bring the professional standards of secular news reporting to the Catholic press, maintaining that "if the mayor of a city owned its only newspaper, its citizens will not learn what they need and deserve to know about its affairs". It has won the "General Excellence" award from the Catholic Press Association
in the category of national news publications each year from 2000 through 2010.
The publication remains independent of ecclesiastical oversight, something of which NCR is proud, stating that it "is the only significant alternative Catholic voice that provides avenues for expression of diverse perspectives, promoting tolerance and respect for differing ideas." It was the first U.S. publication to write about the clergy sex abuse scandal; its coverage began in 1983 and for years was virtually alone in the Catholic press in drawing attention to the problem.
, Bishop
Charles Herman Helmsing
"issue[d] a public reprimand for their policy of crusading against the Church's teachings," condemning its "poisonous character" and "disregard and denial of the most sacred values of our Catholic faith." Helmsing warned that NCR's writers were likely guilty of heresy, had likely incurred latae sententiae
excommunication
s, and because the publication "does not reflect the teaching of the Church, but on the contrary, has openly and deliberately opposed this teaching," he "ask[ed] the editors in all honesty to drop the term 'Catholic' from their masthead," because "[b]y retaining it they deceive their Catholic readers and do a great disservice to ecumenism by being responsible for the false irenicism of watering down Catholic teachings."
NCR refused to comply, and 66 Catholic journalists signed a statement disagreeing with the condemnation based on its "underlying definition of the legitimate boundaries of religious journalism in service to the church." The Catholic Press Association
reported that the dispute arose from a difference of opinion regarding the function of the press."
Since then, numerous conservative Catholic commentators have criticized the National Catholic Reporter for advocating positions contrary to Church doctrines. Among the dissenting opinions criticized include homosexuals and marriage, ordination of women, stem cell research, and Catholic-identifying politicians who support abortion.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt
Robert Hoyt (journalist)
Robert G. Hoyt was an American journalist, and the founder and first editor of the National Catholic Reporter, an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church....
in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church. Hoyt wanted to bring the professional standards of secular news reporting to the Catholic press, maintaining that "if the mayor of a city owned its only newspaper, its citizens will not learn what they need and deserve to know about its affairs". It has won the "General Excellence" award from the Catholic Press Association
Catholic Press Association
The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada is an association of newspaper and media specialists specialized on reporting on the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1911, it has over 600 member organizations...
in the category of national news publications each year from 2000 through 2010.
The publication remains independent of ecclesiastical oversight, something of which NCR is proud, stating that it "is the only significant alternative Catholic voice that provides avenues for expression of diverse perspectives, promoting tolerance and respect for differing ideas." It was the first U.S. publication to write about the clergy sex abuse scandal; its coverage began in 1983 and for years was virtually alone in the Catholic press in drawing attention to the problem.
Criticism
In 1968, NCR's ordinaryOrdinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
, Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Charles Herman Helmsing
Charles Herman Helmsing
The Most Reverend Charles Herman Helmsing was an American Roman Catholic bishop.- History :...
"issue[d] a public reprimand for their policy of crusading against the Church's teachings," condemning its "poisonous character" and "disregard and denial of the most sacred values of our Catholic faith." Helmsing warned that NCR's writers were likely guilty of heresy, had likely incurred latae sententiae
Latae sententiae
Latæ sententiæ is a Latin term used in the canon law of the Catholic Church meaning literally "given sentence".Officially, a latae sententiae penalty follows automatically, by force of the law itself, when the law is contravened....
excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
s, and because the publication "does not reflect the teaching of the Church, but on the contrary, has openly and deliberately opposed this teaching," he "ask[ed] the editors in all honesty to drop the term 'Catholic' from their masthead," because "[b]y retaining it they deceive their Catholic readers and do a great disservice to ecumenism by being responsible for the false irenicism of watering down Catholic teachings."
NCR refused to comply, and 66 Catholic journalists signed a statement disagreeing with the condemnation based on its "underlying definition of the legitimate boundaries of religious journalism in service to the church." The Catholic Press Association
Catholic Press Association
The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada is an association of newspaper and media specialists specialized on reporting on the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1911, it has over 600 member organizations...
reported that the dispute arose from a difference of opinion regarding the function of the press."
Since then, numerous conservative Catholic commentators have criticized the National Catholic Reporter for advocating positions contrary to Church doctrines. Among the dissenting opinions criticized include homosexuals and marriage, ordination of women, stem cell research, and Catholic-identifying politicians who support abortion.