NCR Connections

Executive editor Heidi Schlumpf aims to help readers understand how recent news stories fit together. NCR Connections will provide guideposts and markers to help lead readers through key issues and stories.

Pope Francis greets people during his general audience in the Paul VI hall Oct. 13 at the Vatican. (CNS/Paul Haring)

On Pope Francis, EWTN and cracking down on criticism

by Heidi Schlumpf

Oct 21, 2021

NCR Connections: Pope Francis made a thinly veiled criticism about EWTN. Why aren't more media professionals concerned about this? Perhaps because journalists are committed to the truth, and the pope speaks the truth about EWTN.

St. Joseph Hall on the campus of Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois (Wikimedia Commons/Benny the mascot)

Is the tide turning on LGBT firings at Catholic schools?

by Heidi Schlumpf

Oct 11, 2021

NCR Connections: "Happens all the time," I told my sister when she shared news that a Catholic school had rescinded a job offer to a woman with a wife. What doesn't happen all the time: The school reversed its decision.

Introducing NCR's new contributing writers

by Heidi Schlumpf

Sep 24, 2021

NCR Connections: In an attempt to bring more racial, ethnic, gender, age, geographic and ideological diversity to the publication, we are excited to announce a group of 13 new regular contributing writers.

The cover to the Sept. 21, 2001, issue of the National Catholic Reporter (NCR photo/Jo Schierhoff)

Remembering 9/11 at NCR

by Tom Roberts

Sep 10, 2021

NCR Connections: On Sept. 11, 2001, two things occurred within the confines of the NCR newsroom that to this day convince me that NCR, this little enterprise, is something extraordinary both in terms of craft and purpose.

Columns ›

On Pope Francis, EWTN and cracking down on criticism

Is the tide turning on LGBT firings at Catholic schools?

Introducing NCR's new contributing writers

Remembering 9/11 at NCR

Q & A with activist Kathy Kelly on Afghanistan, US withdrawal and what's next

NCR readers' favorite Catholic novels

NCR wouldn't have published the Grindr story. Here's why.

A hunt for the memory of my Italian and Mexican grandparents

Why was bishops' vote on Communion document secret?

NCR, EarthBeat, Global Sisters Report receive 32 Catholic media awards

My favorite Catholic novels, past and present: What are yours?

Listening to and telling the stories of Latino Catholics

Founder of bishops' parody Twitter account comes clean

Do your part for the common good: Get vaccinated

Will Catholics come back post-pandemic?

Sexism: It's still a thing, unfortunately

What we've lost in a pandemic year

One year later: A thank you and an invitation

NCR's Joshua McElwee is Iraq-bound with Pope Francis

Let's give up culture war infighting for Lent

Liberal Catholicism: We've been here all along

How Catholic media should cover Biden

2020: A year like no other

The media is not the church's enemy

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