When John Wynne, S.J., opened the primary office of America in 1909, he had an easy yet daring vision: to create a media ministry that will give Catholics a voice in the general public debate of america. That’s why he called it America. Over the course of a Great Depression, two world wars, eight papacies, 20 presidencies and countless more events within the church and the world, America became probably the most celebrated Catholic journals within the English-speaking world.
Yet relatively few people heard about it.
America is launching a groundbreaking national marketing campaign. We’re calling it #OwnYourFaith.
Like much of the Catholic media, for greater than a century America didn’t conduct marketing beyond the occasional unsolicited mail effort. We actually didn’t make any big, national effort to get the word out. We relied on word of mouth and friendly relations—for instance, with the network of Jesuit schools, which frequently made America required reading for many of their students. For quite a few reasons—starting with the realities of publishing in a digital age—those strategies are not any longer practical or effective. It’s past time to make a more organized and concerted effort to let people learn about this amazing resource.
In some ways the news and evaluation America provides are needed now greater than ever. That may appear strange to say, given the precarious position of organized religion within the contemporary United States. The decline of spiritual affiliation is the results of myriad aspects, however it actually includes the tendency of organized religions to take their appeal with no consideration and never properly “market” themselves or, in Christian theological terms, evangelize.
Amongst baptized Catholics, many individuals feel the church has failed to interact them, didn’t take heed to their questions.
Amongst baptized Catholics, many individuals feel the church has failed to interact them, didn’t take heed to their questions and didn’t live as much as the ideals it professes. They’ve decided to walk away. But even amongst those that remain within the pews, there are questions and challenges.
And yet what number of Catholics, practicing or otherwise, are even aware of the existence of the Catholic media, of publications like America whose mission is to accompany them through that questioning, to assist them make sense of events within the church and the world? A sensible, Catholic take—one that appears with a critical and well-trained eye on the events of the day, from elections to Netflix specials to Vatican news—is a perspective that many Catholics simply have no idea exists.
We’re going to change that.
This month, for the primary time in its history, America is launching a groundbreaking national marketing campaign. We’re calling it #OwnYourFaith.
Whenever you come across this campaign—on social media, on city sidewalks, in places like The Wall Street Journal—you’ll find us proposing questions for dialogue: the identical questions most Catholics are asking, the problems at the guts of the national and ecclesial conversation. I think that the church—and the country—are higher off once we are free to wrestle with essentially the most pressing problems with the day, unbound by ideological traps or that nagging sense that we aren’t purported to ask difficult or controversial questions in church. I do know that you simply, as a committed America reader, consider in a vigorous conversation too. With this marketing campaign, we’re betting that there are thousands and thousands of Catholics who also consider in that but haven’t yet heard about America.
I think that the church—and the country—are higher off once we are free to wrestle with essentially the most pressing problems with the day, unbound by ideological traps.
Why #OwnYourFaith? Since the Catholic Church belongs to all of us, regardless that it could not all the time feel that way. This great gift is just not just your parish priest’s church, not only Father Matt Malone’s church, not only the U.S. bishops’ church, but Christ’s church and subsequently yours. It is thru him, with him and in him that we share a standard baptism.
Lots of you reading this have supported the mission of America for years, even many years. The loyalty of our subscribers and benefactors is our most precious gift. And we owe it to you to place within the time and resources required to make this work available to many more people and handy it on to a latest generation. The problems facing our nation and our church—the very questions we wrestle with at America—are too essential to not.
And so I ask you to affix us on this unprecedented effort. Is there someone in your loved ones, your workplace or your parish who would appreciate a wise, Catholic tackle politics, faith and culture? It’s time to inform them about America. Tell them in person, or with a fast text or email, about why you read and subscribe to America. Pass along an article, a difficulty, a podcast, a video about something that made you think that or gave you hope.
While we’ve tapped the neatest and most dedicated staff in publishing to craft this marketing campaign, we all know that our best resource in spreading the word is you. Thanks.
