Real journalism

Saturday Post

Jan 24, 2026

Good morning and happy Saturday,

John Allen, Jr. died this week. He was a long time Vatican journalist who had a clear depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding about how things work in Rome.

When the Boston Glob spun off Crux in 2016, Allen picked up the mantle as its editor-in-cheif. Now, Crux is one of my go to sources for Church news, not just in Rome, but around the world.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where we tend to pick our news publications based on whether we agree with their contents or slant versus whether or not they are providing accurate and substantial information.

The Pillar came under fire last year for reporting on a celebrity exorcist (still not a fan of that term) who, according to a child’s father, was inappropriately touching her hair. People lambasted the Pillar not for any lack of evidence or reporting but because they had a negative article about someone they liked. An article, by the way, that was substantied by witnesses, a police report, a response from the priest’s communiuty, and a response from the priest’s attorney.

So many people say they want “good, honest journalism,” but the reality is they want something that will confirm what they believe.

Now, I’m not saying there aren’t good journalists at nearly every publication; I have found myself impressed with reporting on MS NOW and the New York Times and FOX News. Good people work at these organizations. At the same time, these organizations have an editorial slant that they have detirmined drives views and clicks and subsequently, advertising profit.

Religious journalists, and Catholic journalists in particular, ought to hold themselves to a higher standard and I believe many of them do. Not only are they bound by their conscience to be honest in the work they do, they can see the impact they have on the Church and their communities, which they have a responsibility to participate in and build up.

Even though I didn’t always agree with John Allen, Jr.’s editorial pieces, he struck me as someone who was honest and fair, someone who knew that there are eternal consequences in the stories he reported on.

There are so few publications out there worth trusting our time and attention to. I have found that these publications, even with their (occassionally blatant) ideological slants in their editorial sections, are reliable when it comes to reporting on the Church:

The Pillar
Crux
The National Catholic Register / EWTN News (fka Catholic News Agency)
America Magazine
Vatican News
UCA News
The Catholic Register

These publications, particularly in their news divisions, spend time and resources ensuring they get the story right, reglardless of their audiences reaction.

Even if I disagree with some of their editorials, I find myself better informed about what other people are thinking about a particular issue and I can generally trust that the people writing in these publications are acting in good faith.

As we enter the mid-term, I am spending time on my radio program, UP North Catholic, on the USCCB document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. Part of that formation of conscience is ensuring that we are making informed decisions, rooted in our Catholic identity and in the reality of the world we live in.

I hope and pray that Crux continues on in the vein of John Allen, Jr. and ask that you pray for his widow and the repose of his soul.

people walking on snow covered ground during daytime — Photo by Hümâ H. Yardım on Unsplash

This week on UP North Catholic:

Matthew discusses the bishops intentions in writing Forming Consciences for Faithful Citzenship and this Sunday’s reading from St. Paul.

You can also find the show on Sundays here on PurpleCatholic.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Travelling for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Book with Expedia using this link and support the Purple Catholic.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday at Mass we will hear from Isaiah 8:23-9:3; Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; and Matthew 4:12-23.

Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:

Monday, 26 January - Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, bishops
Tuesday, 27 January - Memorial of St. Angela Merici, virgin (optional)
Wednesday, 28 January - Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor
Saturday, 31 January - Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest

And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Matthew 4:23

Have a good weekend,

Matthew

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Real journalism

Saturday Post

This week on UP North Catholic:

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the news:

The March for Life

The United States

The Vatican

The World

Requiescat in pace

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