GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —
The Diocese of Grand Rapids is sharing concerns over a newspaper they say some are conflating with the Catholic Church.
The Michigan Catholic Tribune has been publishing on the internet and through physical papers since 2020, according to its website. Its content is a mix of reporting and content from Diocese websites and other official Catholic entities.
Director of Communications for the Diocese of Grand Rapids Annalise Laumeyer said the newspaper did not have permission to use their content.
“What concerns us is that the headline is the Michigan Catholic Tribune, making it seem like it is a publication of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and of the Catholic Church, which is not the case,” Laumeyer said. “We do not endorse and are not affiliated with the Michigan Catholic Tribune or any of its content inside.”
The paper talks about current issues like the 2024 Presidential Election, abortion, immigration and healthcare. Laumeyer said the church would not publish that kind of partisan content.
“Our concern is that it's not only purporting to be a Catholic paper, but most of the content inside definitely is partisan political content, and as we move closer to the election, we certainly want to encourage Catholics and encourage everyone to vote,” she said. “But the way that that information is presented is not the way that the Catholic Church presents information in regards to the election, the Catholic Church does not endorse or oppose any political candidate, any political party or any political action committee.”
She said the church does encourage Catholics to vote, but not who to vote for. Catholics have reached out to the Diocese, saying how they are upset with the content in the paper. Laumeyer has had to tell them the paper is not affiliated.
The newspapers are not only being mailed to Catholics, Laumeyer said. She knows of papers being mailed to non-Catholics, and similar papers being mailed in states like Wisconsin, Iowa and Arizona as far back as 2022.
She said the church would never give personal information to a publisher.
“We did not sell mailing lists. We did not provide any sort of contact information,” she said. “So again, we're unsure of how the publisher received their information for this mailing it's certainly possible, as all advertisers know, to buy mailing lists that you know are a specific target audience that you would like to reach.”
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to the Michigan Catholic Tribune for comment but has not heard a response.
A statement from the publisher in the Michigan Catholic Tribune in the October 2024 edition said:
From the publisher
We've been publishing Michigan Catholic Tribune online for four years.
Our goal is two-fold: (1) to provide news about state and local policy matters and politics to help you assess whether the policy decisions made by your elected officials are aligned with your values and to explain how those decisions impact your quality of life; and (2) to offer quality local content to help you stay abreast of what's happening in the community you call home.
We will present the policy arguments being made and frame the choices being offered in order to foster a dialogue that produces the most productive outcomes available.
We will provide contextual and consequential information to give you the whole story. This is a community forum where we speak with you rather than talking at you.
Consistent with that notion, we want to hear from you. We welcome your story ideas, your editorial submissions, and your constructive critiques. Tell us which stories you find helpful, which stories you enjoy and, conversely, which stories missed the mark.
You can email your ideas or requests to receive future print copies to news@michigancatholictribune.com.
Thank you; Michigan Catholic Tribune Publishers