National Catholic Reporter Continues Legacy of Immigrant Outreach

The 200-year-old tradition of Catholic journalism serving immigrant communities lives on at NCR.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The National Catholic Reporter (NCR), founded in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council, continues the legacy of the first Catholic newspaper in the U.S., which was established in 1822 to serve immigrant Catholics. While the original paper aimed to unite and inform immigrant Catholics, today NCR focuses on supporting and accompanying immigrants amid the U.S. government's current immigration crackdown, providing coverage, editorials, and commentary on the Catholic Church's response.

Why it matters

As Catholic diocesan newspapers and national magazines have closed in recent years, NCR remains one of the few independent Catholic publications still operating. Its work is especially crucial in a time of polarization, distrust, and deportation threats that have caused many immigrants to live in fear, as NCR strives to give a voice to the people in the pews and hold those in power accountable.

The details

The first Catholic newspaper in the U.S., the United States Catholic Miscellany, was founded in 1822 by Bishop John England in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, as an outreach to immigrant Catholics. Over 200 years later, the National Catholic Reporter, founded in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council, is also involved in outreach to immigrants, but in a different way. Today, NCR focuses on communicating how the Catholic Church is standing with immigrants amid the U.S. government's current immigration crackdown, providing coverage, editorials, and commentary on the Church's response of support, companionship, and recognition of the God-given dignity of all.

  • The United States Catholic Miscellany was founded in 1822.
  • The National Catholic Reporter was founded in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council.

The players

Bishop John England

The founder of the first Catholic newspaper in the U.S., the United States Catholic Miscellany, in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina in 1822.

National Catholic Reporter

An independent Catholic publication founded in 1964 during the Second Vatican Council, which continues the legacy of serving immigrant communities through its coverage, editorials, and commentary on the Catholic Church's response to the current U.S. immigration crackdown.

Massimo Faggioli

A theologian and professor at the Loyola Institute at Trinity College, Dublin, who recently gave a shoutout to NCR and two other Catholic publications for their courageous work in reporting and raising awareness on the spiral of violence and authoritarianism in the U.S.

Joe Ferullo

The publisher of the National Catholic Reporter, who stated in a column at the start of the publication's 60th anniversary celebration that NCR remains an organization made up of lay Catholics who believe the people in the pews should have a voice, the people in power should be held to account, and honest, truthful journalism is something to treasure.

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What they’re saying

“We remain an organization made up of lay Catholics who believe the people in the pews should have a voice, the people in power should be held to account, and honest, truthful journalism — especially in this day and age — is something to treasure.”

— Joe Ferullo, Publisher, National Catholic Reporter (National Catholic Reporter)

“doing courageous work of reporting and raising awareness on the spiral of violence and authoritarianism into which the country is falling.”

— Massimo Faggioli, Theologian and Professor, Loyola Institute at Trinity College, Dublin (X)

The takeaway

As independent Catholic journalism faces challenges with the closure of diocesan newspapers and national magazines, the National Catholic Reporter remains committed to its mission of giving a voice to the people in the pews, holding those in power accountable, and providing honest, truthful reporting - especially in these precarious times when the Catholic Church's response to the U.S. immigration crackdown is crucial.