U.S. Catholic magazine received five awards from the Associated Church Press (ACP) during the organization’s annual “Best of the Church Press” ceremony, held this year in Chicago.
Founded in 1916, ACP is one of the oldest interfaith religious press associations in North America. The accolades recognize U.S. Catholic’s continued commitment to bold, thought-provoking journalism, compelling storytelling, and creative design that elevates the voices and concerns of contemporary Catholics.
Top honors included:
- Award of Excellence (First Place), Denominational or Special Interest Magazine
The judges praised U.S. Catholic as “compelling and thought-provoking,” highlighting the magazine’s “great design” and community-focused features such as its monthly book club.
- Award of Excellence, National Reporting (Long Format) for “Catholics lack a clear ethic of hunting. Do we need one?” by Rebeca Randall
The judges wrote: “What at first seems a minor topic grows into a substantial philosophical issue that requires every word to tell the tale. The story is perfectly balanced with anecdotes and experts, and by the end, there’s a lot to think about.”
- Award of Excellence, James Solheim Award for Editorial Courage for “Gender diversity has always been part of the church” by Emma Cieslik
This powerful essay on LGBTQ+ inclusion was recognized for being a “well-thought-out and passionately argued case for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church” and for being “an act of bravery.” The judges noted that with this piece, U.S. Catholic “lives up to the promise to be a publication that ‘honestly probes the challenges and choices, controversies and conflicts Catholics encounter in their church, society, and private and public lives.’”
Additional awards include:
- Award of Merit, Theme Issue for the August 2024 issue on disability justice
Judges praised the issue’s unity of design and “precision of its writing,” calling it “simply excellent through and through.”
- Award of Merit, Illustration for the December 2023 cover
Judges recognized Jory Mertens’ illustration of Mary as a “beautiful depiction” that is “dark-toned but vibrant, with a beautiful story to accompany.”
“We are honored to be recognized by the Associated Church Press for work that reflects the heart of our mission: honest, courageous, and community-rooted Catholic journalism,” said Emily Sanna, managing editor of U.S. Catholic. “We’re proud to publish stories that challenge and inspire, while keeping the lived experiences of Catholics at the center.”
Add comment