New Editor Named for Leading Catholic News Magazine

San Francisco, Calif., Aug 31, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Domenico Bettinelli has been named editor of The Catholic World Report (CWR), America’s leading Catholic news magazine and Ignatius Press’ flagship journal. After 12 years with CWR, retiring editor Phil Lawler will become editor emeritus, and will continue to be an active presence and will occasionally write for the magazine.

Bettinelli, 36, has worked with Lawler since 1995, first as assistant editor and then as managing editor of The Catholic World Report.  He has also been managing editor of Lawler’s web news service CWNews.com. Bettinelli is a native of Boston and holds a theology degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH.

Bettinelli plans to continue delivering the same hard-hitting news and investigation that is CWR’s trademark.

“While the person of the editor is changing, the mission of CWR is not,” Bettinelli said. “We will continue to look at news of the Church and the world with the same unwavering commitment to the truth and the Gospel.

“With the election of a new Pope, the Church’s continuing efforts to recover from the clergy sex-abuse scandal, the challenges of new sects in Latin America, the increasing ascendance of secularism in Europe, the rise of radical Islam worldwide, as well as the oppression of religion in many countries around the globe, there is plenty of journalistic work to be done.  CWR will remain the source for the fearless reporting and analysis that has become our signature.”       

Although the retiring Lawler will still be involved with the magazine, he plans to focus on writing a book about a subject that has preoccupied him throughout his adult life: the collapse of Catholic culture in his native Boston. He will also continue as publisher and editor of the Catholic World News website.

Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., the publisher of Catholic World Report, thanked Lawler for his service as editor and for his ongoing presence with the magazine as editor emeritus.