Crisis magazine folding after current issue

[chicago]

If the Wanderer(a weekly newspaper) is as extreme as you suggested and I really haven’t read it much but many catholics I know do like it, why bother to read a catholic newspaper or magazine?

The Wanderer is significantly to the right in the same way that National Catholic Reporter or U.S. Catholic or Commonweal is to the left. New Oxford Review and the Remnant would also be considered heavily right (more so than the Wanderer). America is clearly left of center. St. Anthony Messenger perhaps would be soft left. National Catholic Register roughly middle to right. Our Sunday Visitor kind of a soft center. Crisis would have fallen somewhere between the Register and the Wanderer, approximately.

I’m not including all of the magazines here, but that does hit some of the more popular ones.

There’s a spectrum, therefore, of who lies where, but they all have a clear perspective. They each tend to draw a readership which agrees with that outlook.

 

[gam197]

Thanks.
As a catholic I have spend many more hours reading the Bible than having access to catholic magazines althought I have read a few I obtained from church racks. The cost of these magazines being the main issue. I don’t want a real spriritual magazine such as the protestant Good News.

originally posted by chicago
The Wanderer is significantly to the right in the same way that National Catholic Reporter or U.S. Catholic or Commonweal is to the left. New Oxford Review and the Remnant would also be considered heavily right (more so than the Wanderer). America is clearly left of center. St. Anthony Messenger perhaps would be soft left. National Catholic Register roughly middle to right. Our Sunday Visitor kind of a soft center. Crisis would have fallen somewhere between the Register and the Wanderer, approximately.

When I first typed these names in columns ,in my mind they came out opposite on paper. I agree with you on most of these, right being more conservative.

My take …left…

National Catholic Reporter
Commonweal
New Oxford Review
St. Anthony Messenger
U.S. Catholic
America

My take … right

Wanderer
Remnant
Crisis ( more toward center)

My take…

Sunday Visitor(soft center)
National Catholic Register (right of center)
diocese’s newspapers (right of center)

This is one of many articles on their online forum from New Oxford Review so how do you consider it right? This is from European gay news.

pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5019.html

St. Anthony Messenger and America(Jesuits) may be more toward the center as you suggested. Any more?

 

[chicago]

Thanks.
As a catholic I have spend many more hours reading the Bible than having access to catholic magazines althought I have read a few I obtained from church racks.

You’re probably better off that way, anyway.

The cost of these magazines being the main issue. I don’t want a real spriritual magazine such as the protestant Good News.

Something which a lot of people have enjoyed, however, is Catholic Digest, which is just that a digest from a lot of other publications all over the map. Often their selections are a little more inspirational in tact.

When I first typed these names in columns ,in my mind they came out opposite on paper. I agree with you on most of these, right being more conservative.

My take …left…

National Catholic Reporter
Commonweal
New Oxford Review
St. Anthony Messenger
U.S. Catholic
America

New Oxford Review is by no means left. They are essentially very traditionalist and right.

My take…

Sunday Visitor(soft center)
National Catholic Register (right of center)
diocese’s newspapers (right of center)

Diocesan newspapers vary by locale. Many would be considered more leftist in outlook. Leftist, understand, doesn’t necessarily indicate promotion of positions antithetical to Church teaching, but merely more of a focus which tend to emphasize social justice, the human element more than a doctrinal type push, a more democratic or collegial approach to things.

This is one of many articles on their online forum from New Oxford Review so how do you consider it right? This is from European gay news.

pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5019.html

Just read their online website and add it up for yourself:

newoxfordreview.org/

Not to mention their harsh satirical ads which other Catholic magazines (including Crisis) refused to run.

Or note their authors. Even their bragging citation by retired Archbishop Weakland should be telling.

St. Anthony Messenger and America(Jesuits) may be more toward the center as you suggested. Any more?

We could do an entire list if we wanted. Ligourian, Envoy, This Rock, Catholic Digest, Inside the Vatican, Catholic World Report, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, The Latin Mass, does CUF still publish a magazine? I don’t know if it is fair to lump them all in together, however, as different journals have unique purposes so an apologetical offering perhaps shouldn’t be put up against something which is focused on liturgy, or against a political rag.

 

[estesbob]

Thanks.

My take …left…

National Catholic Reporter
Commonweal
New Oxford Review
St. Anthony Messenger
U.S. Catholic
America

?

The New Oxford review is about as far right as you can get. i think some people think they are “left” becuase they oopose the war.

 

[rien]

The Wanderer is significantly to the right in the same way that National Catholic Reporter or U.S. Catholic or Commonweal is to the left. New Oxford Review and the Remnant would also be considered heavily right (more so than the Wanderer). America is clearly left of center. St. Anthony Messenger perhaps would be soft left. National Catholic Register roughly middle to right. Our Sunday Visitor kind of a soft center. Crisis would have fallen somewhere between the Register and the Wanderer, approximately.

I’m not including all of the magazines here, but that does hit some of the more popular ones.

There’s a spectrum, therefore, of who lies where, but they all have a clear perspective. They each tend to draw a readership which agrees with that outlook.

NOR is not totally left or right. Their vehement opposition to President Bush and the Iraq invasion from day one is quite liberal. But they are quite “liberal” on more issues than just the war. Their current issue has an article about evolution and how it can be reconciled with the Bible - something I’d expect from Commonweal. Too, it is taking on the Catholic League and Donohughe (sp?) to task for not calling the bishops far more to task on the priest pedophilia issue. They are far closer generally to Catholics For A free Choice on the priest scandal than to rote conservative positions you will read in most other “conservative” publications. NOR takes quite liberal postions at times. Not so at other times. Maybe that is why I like NOR - it is more radical than conservative or liberal. Full of surprises. Makes me angry at times, has me givng a thumbs up at times. But it always makes me think!

 

[chicago]

NOR is not totally left or right. Their vehement opposition to President Bush and the Iraq invasion from day one is quite liberal. But they are quite “liberal” on more issues than just the war. Their current issue has an article about evolution and how it can be reconciled with the Bible - something I’d expect from Commonweal. Too, it is taking on the Catholic League and Donohughe (sp?) to task for not calling the bishops far more to task on the priest pedophilia issue. They are far closer generally to Catholics For A free Choice on the priest scandal than to rote conservative positions you will read in most other “conservative” publications. NOR takes quite liberal postions at times. Not so at other times. Maybe that is why I like NOR - it is more radical than conservative or liberal. Full of surprises. Makes me angry at times, has me givng a thumbs up at times. But it always makes me think!

I would argue that these are not liberal positions, but rather more often traditional ones. As such, they are not strictly “conservative” in the political sense, but they are usually hard core and often rightist in the theological or practical. The fact that some of these positions tend to coincide (though for different reasons) with what liberal Catholics might conclude does not make their positions liberal in the same sense. Indeed, this illustrates the inherant problem with identifying issues as ultimately “liberal” or “conservative” in nature based upon where they tend to fall and who holds them. Agreed, that NOR is essentially radical in nature more than conservative. They are often bull dogs. They also do, indeed, make articulate argumentation which is more than mere talking points.

 

[Sheeniac]

I think that there is a place for the kind of thing you are looking for. It is likely more on the level of inspiriational writing, however.

You do say something of interest in these words by noting that you want something which “confirms” your beliefs as truth. I think that, ultimately, this is what many journals attemt to do. Now, of course, their perspective could be widely variant. But they are, perhaps, catering to an audience which wants to be patted on the back and have their ideas promoted as a sort of gospel. So perhaps this is the key to success. Find a market which will support advocacy of perspective. People aren’t, afterall, looking to be changed, they are desiring to be consoled and to have their positions ratified with pride.

I think that is an unfair statement (positions ratified with pride). The OP wrote: “When I read a magazine, I want someone else to lift me up in the catholic faith, to confirm that what the bible and church teaches is truth.”

I’m the same way. I want orthodox teachings, not attacks on the Church and Her teachings. I read both the Wanderer and OSV. In the Wanderer I skip the political (Buchanan, Washington Whispers, e.g.) columns, and skip some of the skimpier/opinion oriented pieces. In both publications, I find a lot of spiritual food.

My reading time is limited, so I would rather learn and understand the Truth as proclaimed by the Church instead of people who refuse to conform their consciences to the Church.

Yes - CUF still publishes a magazine.

 

[chicago]

The problem is that essentially EVERYTHING in periodical writing is tinged with bias (that is to say personal perspective of interpretation). So receiving a straightforward commentary on some topic to, “…learn and understand the Truth as proclaimed by the Church,” is challenging. For, generally, what happens is that authors (of all perspectives) use some aspect of this Truth to support and advocate their own preferred positions and take on the faith. So what you end up with, by and large, is the ability for picking your poison to suit one’s own tastes and liking. And this is what readers generally do in finding something which confirms what they want to hear rather than reading anything which would challenge them to see things from another angle that might offer some alternative insight.

 

[Sheeniac]

The problem is that essentially EVERYTHING in periodical writing is tinged with bias (that is to say personal perspective of interpretation). So receiving a straightforward commentary on some topic to, “…learn and understand the Truth as proclaimed by the Church,” is challenging. For, generally, what happens is that authors (of all perspectives) use some aspect of this Truth to support and advocate their own preferred positions and take on the faith. So what you end up with, by and large, is the ability for picking your poison to suit one’s own tastes and liking. And this is what readers generally do in finding something which confirms what they want to hear rather than reading anything which would challenge them to see things from another angle that might offer some alternative insight.

I agree to an extent. Perhaps that is why it is better to read more than one periodical. I also get the Register, and feel that I get a lot out of reading both on given events/subjects.

I get This Rock as well, so I am steeped in the more orthodox viewpoint.

Reading CAF helps to gain more perspectives as well! While I stil l hold to my basic orientation, I will say that my understanding of the more ‘liberal’ (to mis-use the word as has been discussed in this thread) perspectives has increased immensely.

 

[gam197]

originally posted by chicago
The problem is that essentially EVERYTHING in periodical writing is tinged with bias (that is to say personal perspective of interpretation).

I am not sure I would call it bias when a publication teaches infallible church doctrine as true or false. As you may be referring to just cultural issues and solutions, sure there is bias.

originally posted by chicago
So receiving a straightforward commentary on some topic to, “…learn and understand the Truth as proclaimed by the Church,” is challenging. For, generally, what happens is that authors (of all perspectives) use some aspect of this Truth to support and advocate their own preferred positions and take on the faith

Yes they do use some truth in their commentary but that can be very confusing. On a crucial issues such as Natural Family Planning, they may come across as neutral but really often in the punch line, they are opposed to it. If they can’t agree on 2000 years of taught infallible church doctrine, why waste your time reading them?

I understand on the war, death penalty, welfare, immigration, oil crisis solutions, school vochers, etc there are many opinions but not on the basic catholic doctrine so let start with basics in a publication and then take on the other issues.

originally posted by chicago
We could do an entire list if we wanted. Ligourian, Envoy, This Rock, Catholic Digest, Inside the Vatican, Catholic World Report, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, The Latin Mass, does CUF still publish a magazine?

Catholic Digest is more spiritual but the rest of these magazines seem to be to the right(conservative). New Oxford Review is all over the place so you better have the time to figure it all out. Editors do change and can influence a magazine. Article on how the priesthood use to be from Homlletic and Pastoral Review.

catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2002-10/kelly.html

 

[chicago]

I am not sure I would call it bias when a publication teaches infallible church doctrine as true or false. As you may be referring to just cultural issues and solutions, sure there is bias.

Such a thing as the former would essentially be a catechetical piece. They are few and far between in Catholic periodicals. Even when they do exist, often it is placed in the context of commenting upon some issue or question which is ultimately open to a certain amount of interpretation by the article’s author in the way the answer or thesis is put forth.

Yes they do use some truth in their commentary but that can be very confusing. On a crucial issues such as Natural Family Planning, they may come across as neutral but really often in the punch line, they are opposed to it. If they can’t agree on 2000 years of taught infallible church doctrine, why waste your time reading them?

I understand on the war, death penalty, welfare, immigration, oil crisis solutions, school vochers, etc there are many opinions but not on the basic catholic doctrine so let start with basics in a publication and then take on the other issues.

I agree that there tends to be too much ink poured over matters which are essentially pointless exercizes, when that energy could be better expended elsewhere.

That said, by and large most Catholic periodicals aren’t spending the majority of their efforts arguing about essentials. And, even when they are on occasion, it is typically over some tidbit for which there is a certain modicum of room for discussion about the larger concepts at play, even if we might disagree with them.

As one of our auxiliary bishops notes, often complaints which people make to him aren’t about essentials of doctrine (someone attesting that there are four persons in the Trinity, for example), but the details of approach to some topic of concern.

Catholic Digest is more spiritual but the rest of these magazines seem to be to the right(conservative).

Where does Ligourian stand? I think I’ve only looked at a copy a couple of times.

Article on how the priesthood use to be from Homlletic and Pastoral Review.

catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2002-10/kelly.html

Thanks. And while the good Father paints a picture which is likely more rosey than it really was, there is certainly something important which he notes about the priestly fraternity which certainly was stronger in those days, communicating joy, and the importance of the communal/familial experience which certainly is “fun”.

I only wish he had a real answer for the question he posed:

How does the Church—and society—recover happy priests in numbers and quality that befits the Church of Christ, as she once did?

But, then, perhaps the purpose of a good piece is to pose the question which we can then discuss and search through rather than simply providing a single sighted answer.

 

[rien]

I would argue that these are not liberal positions, but rather more often traditional ones. As such, they are not strictly “conservative” in the political sense, but they are usually hard core and often rightist in the theological or practical. The fact that some of these positions tend to coincide (though for different reasons) with what liberal Catholics might conclude does not make their positions liberal in the same sense. Indeed, this illustrates the inherant problem with identifying issues as ultimately “liberal” or “conservative” in nature based upon where they tend to fall and who holds them. Agreed, that NOR is essentially radical in nature more than conservative. They are often bull dogs. They also do, indeed, make articulate argumentation which is more than mere talking points.

ITA. Another - they are pretty much anti-death penalty. That position coincides - a better term - with the liberal position. But it is arrived at by the NOR folks from a different mindset.

A secular "conservative’ magazine that is as challenging and unpredictable as NOR is Chronicles magazine. They are so radically conservative they are liberal on some issues. The war, off-shoring, Wal-Mart. But a great secular magazine in the tradition of NOR IMO. If you tend to be conservative and are looking for a “conservative” magazine to subscribe to IMO you can’t beat Chronicles.

 

[rien]

I am not sure I would call it bias when a publication teaches infallible church doctrine as true or false. As you may be referring to just cultural issues and solutions, sure there is bias.

Yes they do use some truth in their commentary but that can be very confusing. On a crucial issues such as Natural Family Planning, they may come across as neutral but really often in the punch line, they are opposed to it. If they can’t agree on 2000 years of taught infallible church doctrine, why waste your time reading them?

I understand on the war, death penalty, welfare, immigration, oil crisis solutions, school vochers, etc there are many opinions but not on the basic catholic doctrine so let start with basics in a publication and then take on the other issues.

Catholic Digest is more spiritual but the rest of these magazines seem to be to the right(conservative). New Oxford Review is all over the place so you better have the time to figure it all out. Editors do change and can influence a magazine. Article on how the priesthood use to be from Homlletic and Pastoral Review.

catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2002-10/kelly.html

Yes, NOR is absolutely unpredictable - “all over the place” as you say. It does take time. I think NOR holds the record for the most articles read/time spent on reading those articles of any magazine - religious or secular - I’ve subscribed to. With the possible exception of Chronicles.

CWR is a great source for church news worldwide. Recent articles on Nepal and Sri lanka were not covered in anything else catholic I read.

Truth to tell however, CWR has, in the past year, become somewhat strident in its attacks on the American episcopacy. Something it wasn’t before. Given it is a news magazine this may be a mistake. Does that mean its reporting is filtered through an anti-American church perspective? Just a warning. I still like the magazine and renewed for 2 years recently. I recommend it for anyone wanting to read lots of worldwide church news.

 

[gam197]

original by chicago
As one of our auxiliary bishops notes, often complaints which people make to him aren’t about essentials of doctrine (someone attesting that there are four persons in the Trinity, for example), but the details of approach to some topic of concern.

In the 1960’s there were often articles about the Trinity, the Virginity of Mary, etc.

We seem to have moved away from there but still are discussing the “santity of marriage” , the validity of the celibate priesthood, etc. These magazines that discuss this only confuse.

When religious groups like the Jesuits(America), the Claretian Missionaries(U.S. Catholic) and the Paulists Brothers(not Pauline sister which are often good) take and produce leftist magazines, it makes me not want to pick up anything by say a Jesuit even though I know there are good Jesuits.

originally posted by** rien**
A secular "conservative’ magazine that is as challenging and unpredictable as NOR is Chronicles magazine

It looks like Chronicle may be having trouble too. They are requesting donations and say that it cost $100,000 just to stay online.

So we would agree that these magazines are on the right:

Envoy
This Rock
Inside the Vatican,
Catholic World Report
Homiletic and Pastoral Review(I am not sure if still published)
The Latin Mass
CUF
the Wanderer
Crisis(little toward center0
Remnant

this would be more centered

Sunday Visitor(soft center)
National Catholic Register (right of center)
diocese’s newspapers (right or left of center)
Catholic Digest(spiritual stories)
Liguorian? Unsure

and we would say more “all over the place”

NOR
Chronicle

 

[chicago]

So we would agree that these magazines are on the right:

Envoy
This Rock
Inside the Vatican,
Catholic World Report
Homiletic and Pastoral Review(I am not sure if still published)
The Latin Mass
CUF
the Wanderer
Crisis(little toward center0
Remnant

this would be more centered

Sunday Visitor(soft center)
National Catholic Register (right of center)
diocese’s newspapers (right or left of center)
Catholic Digest(spiritual stories)
Liguorian? Unsure

and we would say more “all over the place”

NOR
Chronicle

I think it would be better to categorize them by type. Certain among the types, they can be graded in spectrum. But is it fair to compare a spiritual inspiration mag to a news and culture one, even if both are generally leaning in the same direction? It might also be interesting to assign a number to each to indicate a degree of being to one extreme or the other.

Apologetical/Faith Based

Envoy (which I’d call more straight ahead center than right)
This Rock
CUF (whatever it is called, I forget)

Liturgy

The Latin Mass
Homiletics and Pastoral Review
Adoremus Bulletin

Culture/Intellectual

First Things (not strictly a “Catholic” magazine, but generally lumped in with them)
NOR
Crisis
Inside The Vatican?
America
Commonweal

News/Politics

The Wanderer
The Remnant?
Catholic World Report
National Catholic Register
National Catholic Reporter
Diocesan Newspapers
Our Sunday Vistor

Family/Spiritual Inspiration

St. Anthony Messenger
Catholic Digest
Ligourian

 

[gam197]

Thanks chicago,

I would take out these and not read them…In the past I’ve pick these up, Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter and St. Anthony Messenger on church racks and at school libaries, and they do not promote a catholic faith but confuse the reader. (St. Anthony is done by the Franciscans and I wonder if there is a different editor as it doesn’t seem so bad online)

I’d even report it to the Pastor if I saw them today even though he may have put them out.

National Catholic Reporter
Commonweal
St. Anthony Messenger
U.S. Catholic
America

originally posted by chicago

Apologetical/Faith Based

Envoy (which I’d call more straight ahead center than right)
This Rock
CUF (whatever it is called, I forget)

Liturgy

The Latin Mass
Homiletics and Pastoral Review
Adoremus Bulletin

Culture/Intellectual

First Things (not strictly a “Catholic” magazine, but generally lumped in with them)
NOR
Crisis
Inside The Vatican?
America
Commonweal

News/Politics

The Wanderer
The Remnant?
Catholic World Report
National Catholic Register
National Catholic Reporter
Diocesan Newspapers
Our Sunday Vistor

Family/Spiritual Inspiration

St. Anthony Messenger
Catholic Digest
Ligourian

---

 

[chicago]

Thanks chicago,

I would take out these and not read them…In the past I’ve pick these up, Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter and St. Anthony Messenger on church racks and at school libaries, and they do not promote a catholic faith but confuse the reader. (St. Anthony is done by the Franciscans and I wonder if there is a different editor as it doesn’t seem so bad online)

I’d even report it to the Pastor if I saw them today even though he may have put them out.

National Catholic Reporter
Commonweal
St. Anthony Messenger
U.S. Catholic
America

Agreed, that these are often some of the more “problematic” publications. But, then, some arguments can be made that there are difficulties with some of the magazines from a more hardline right side of things which remain in the list, The Remnant, for example.

True, some publications are perhaps best not left laying around in the parish racks for the uninitiated to pick up and perhaps get confused. But I do think that even the ones which you have exerpted offer something of value in understanding another perspective and take on things which some Catholics hold to. And it can be important to have that involved and appreciated as part of the larger Catholic conversation.

In that sense, they ought not be excluded from the list of “Catholic” publications.

 

[rien]

In the parish close to me some of these mags are not even allowed on the reading rack. Just a few, NOR, Remnant and Wanderer and The Latin Mass.

 

[chicago]

Typically, what does get allowed in parish racks are only the ones which are more of the spiritual/inspirational type. Either that or the diocesan paper.

 

[rien]

Typically, what does get allowed in parish racks are only the ones which are more of the spiritual/inspirational type. Either that or the diocesan paper.

In the parish near me, other than the few publications I named, every Catholic magazine is allowed on the reading rack. The "used’ reading rack that is.

Its true the publications for sale in this parish are restriced more to the spiritual/inspiration type. The Diocesan newspaper and National Catholic Reporter and America.