By Tablet Staff
NEW YORK — Catholic New York, the biweekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of New York, will cease publishing in November, the archdiocese announced on May 19.
“We know that this is a painful decision for many, beginning with the excellent team who have dedicated themselves to producing an outstanding, award-winning periodical — one of the best, if not the best, Catholic newspapers in the country,” said Msgr. Joseph LaMorte, vicar general and moderator of the curia, and John P. Cahill, chancellor of the archdiocese.
All 13 employees of the newspaper will lose their jobs, according to the announcement.
“I’m so proud of the commitment made by our staff to uphold the legacy of those who came before us, even as we dealt with a changing publishing environment,” its Editor-in-Chief John Woods said in a statement.
Catholic New York, which was founded by Cardinal Terence Cooke in September 1981, has a circulation of more than 100,000 readers.
“I’m heartbroken. CNY holds a special place in the life of my family — my mother, my sister, my wife, myself. My dearest friends came from this relationship. I grew up there. I learned to be a writer there. I met my future wife there,” tweeted Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference.
The archdiocese anticipates unveiling a new digital communications program to replace the publication, which will begin in late 2022 or early 2023.
“We have given our all to the mission of providing readers with important Catholic news, information, and opinion that will help shape their lives and serve as a voice of unity for a diverse and sprawling archdiocese,” Woods said. “Notwithstanding our deep disappointment with the decision, we’ll hold true to that credo until our final edition.”
CNS provides national and international coverage of Catholic news and photography. CNS still plans to continue its Vatican operations.