The Remnant (newspaper)

The Remnant is a Traditionalist Catholic newspaper published twice a month in the United States of America. Although its editors are not affiliated with any particular institute or traditionalist group, the paper is sympathetic to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X. Founded in 1968, it is the oldest Traditionalist Catholic newspaper in the United States.^[1] The Remnant strives to adhere to Catholic teaching in every aspect of its journalism. The name The Remnant is a reference to the remnant of Isaiah and the belief that only a remnant of Catholics holding to the traditional teachings and practice of the Church remain after the sweeping changes brought by the Second Vatican Council.

History

The Remnant traces its roots back to The Wanderer, the "parent paper" of The Remnant and the oldest Catholic weekly newspaper in the United States.^[2] The Remnant was a result of a dispute between Walter Matt, the founding editor of The Wanderer who served the paper for over thirty years, and his brother Alphonse Matt. Walter Matt opposed the changes within the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council; Alphonse Matt supported them.

Walter Matt left The Wanderer, which was left under the guidance of Alphonse, to start The Remnant in 1967, two years before the most dramatic changes, those affecting the Mass and celebration of the Sacraments, were instituted. In Walter Matt's words, his "reaction to what he saw took the form of a Catholic newspaper called The Remnant."^[3] Thus was founded what was to become the flagship of the traditional Catholic movement in the United States.^[4] The Remnant considers itself as the "leading journal of the counterrevolution, which seeks to restore the traditions of the Church to their rightful place and honor in the Church—especially the Tridentine Mass." It serves as a forum for Catholics who, in their words, oppose "that which in any way contradicts the infallible teachings and immutable traditions of the Catholic Church."^[5]

The Remnant is now edited by Walter Matt's youngest son, Michael J. Matt. Many leading traditionalists, including Thomas Woods, Brian Mershon, Christopher Ferrara, Brian McCall, Mark Alessio, Robert Dahl, Kenneth Wolfe, Sherry Foster and Martin Blackshaw write for the paper on a regular basis. Columns by Dr. John C. Rao, a professor at St. John's University, are another regular feature. So were columns by Michael Davies for many years before his death in 2004 and by Thomas Droleskey prior to adopting the sedevacantist position and taking a job with The Four Marks monthly located in Ballantine, MT. From 2005 to 2013, The Remnant was a very vigorous defender of the pontificate of Benedict XVI as its writers believe he has vindicated them on issues that have divided them from other Traditionalists and from conservative Catholics associated with The Wanderer, EWTN, and Catholic Answers. Under the current pontificate of Pope Francis, the newspaper has heavily criticized his policies.

Additional Projects

• Remnant TV: After producing daily video updates from Rome, Italy during the Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave which ultimately elected Pope Francis, The Remnant began producing a full range of cutting-edge video commentary and events coverage under the title of Remnant TV. Remnant TV releases weekly talk show styled YouTube videos in three series: Remnant TV Forum, Remnant Special Report, and The Remnant Underground. Michael Matt serves as host and principal commentator; regular guests include contributors to the Remnant such as Christopher Ferrara, Brian McCall, John Rao, and other Catholic commentators.^[6]
• Remnant E-Edition: The Remnant newspaper is also published in electronic format—available to all print subscribers as well as on its own for a reduced rate. The E-Edition is a high fidelity scan of the print edition formatted for reading on one's personal computer, Kindle, Nook, or other e-reader devices.
• Remnant Tours: For the past thirty years, The Remnant has hosted and organized tours and pilgrimages to the Holy Land and throughout Europe. It has also organized the United States Chapter of the three day Chartres Pilgrimage, a seventy-mile walking pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres during Pentecost weekend, for the past twenty two years.^[7]
• Remnant Press: Having published the works of many Traditionalist Catholics, including Dietrich von Hildebrand, Michael Davies, and Walter Matt, the Remnant Press continues to publish the works of authors in the traditionalist movement. Most recently, the Remnant Press published a collection of Dr. John Senior's essays and plans a new book on Homeschooling.^[8]

SPLC criticism

The Southern Poverty Law Center includes The Remnant and the Remnant Press in its list of "active U.S. hate groups" under the "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" category, which the SPLC defines as "organizations that embrace anti-Semitism and whose theology is typically rejected by the Vatican and mainstream Catholics in general."^[9] The Remnant editors reject this label, noting their belief that anti-Semitism is a mortal sin,^[10] and that the organization is peaceful.^[11] Others have also defended The Remnant from this charge, including the Catholic Family News^[12] and Renew America.^[13]

References

External links

• Official site
• Remnant TV