In several pivotal presidential swing states, Catholic dioceses are issuing unusual warnings. These statements clarify that certain newspapers bearing the name “Catholic” that have been appearing in mailboxes are not affiliated with the Church. These publications, identified as Catholic Tribune newspapers, present themselves with a traditional newspaper design, suggesting legitimacy. However, the articles contained within are largely inflammatory and highly partisan, focusing on cultural issues that appeal to conservative voters.
For instance, a headline in the Wisconsin Catholic Tribune, which has been replicated in other states, provocatively questions, “How many ‘sex change’ mutilation surgeries occurred on Wisconsin kids?” Another headline reads, “Haitian illegal aliens in America: What are Harris supporters saying?” These newspapers simultaneously criticize Vice President Kamala Harris and promote former President Donald Trump, using endorsements from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist, who supports Trump.
Dioceses and parishes in states such as Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin have warned their communities about these publications. Annalise Laumeyer, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, stated that the content gives a misleading impression that the Diocese or the Catholic Church supports the Michigan Catholic Tribune. She took steps to alert parishioners so they would not be misled, emphasizing the potentially problematic perception of the Church among non-Catholics due to the publication’s overtly partisan nature.
The newspapers, appearing also in Arizona and Pennsylvania, align with what academics refer to as “pink slime” publications. This term refers to content that is not what it appears to be, much like a filler used in processed meat. Investigations by ProPublica, utilizing tax documents and business records, linked these publications to a Chicago-based publishing network led by Brian Timpone, a former TV reporter. His network, which includes Metric Media, has ties to misinformation and biased reporting, backed by funding from right-wing super PACs associated with conservative billionaire Richard Uihlein.
The Catholic Church, while engaging in moral and policy discussions, does not endorse political candidates or oppose their election, maintaining a nonpartisan stance. In distancing itself from the Michigan Catholic Tribune, the Archdiocese of Detroit noted that churches with tax-exempt status are prohibited from engaging in partisan politics per the Internal Revenue Code. Similarly, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee directed Catholics to guidelines provided by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference on church involvement in electoral politics.
In Wisconsin, a Catholic named Jason Bourget received the Wisconsin Catholic Tribune without having subscribed and, upon finding the content suspicious, discarded it along with other political advertisements. Historically, similar newspapers have targeted swing-state residents ahead of the 2020 and 2022 elections and have also been observed in elections in Arizona and Iowa. Although websites for the Catholic Tribune have been registered nationwide, many remain inactive or have not published recent content, leaving unclear how many have been distributed this year.
Both Brian Timpone and his brother, Michael Timpone, who is also associated with the publication network, did not respond to requests for comments. Analysis by ProPublica noted that stories from these Catholic newspapers also appear on websites operated by Metric Media, typically without any reporter bylines, making it difficult to identify authors.
Financial records indicate that Metric Media’s associated companies were paid approximately $6.4 million in 2021 and 2022 by the nonprofit organization Restoration of America and its Restoration PAC. Richard Uihlein has contributed around $125 million to Restoration PAC since 2020. Funding from Restoration PAC has also supported CatholicVote, another nonprofit running a super PAC advocating for conservative causes, which has in turn paid companies in the Metric Media network about $827,000 since 2020.
Additional campaign finance filings revealed that Restoration PAC sent $2.5 million to a right-wing PAC called Turnout for America in August, which later paid CatholicVote and one of Brian Timpone’s companies for media services. CatholicVote has been prominently featured in some Catholic Tribune stories, further linking it to the network.
Individuals such as Jacky Eubanks, affiliated with CatholicVote, found themselves quoted in the Tribune without personally interacting with the publication, suggesting her previous statements to CatholicVote were used without direct consent or knowledge. Eubanks asserted that her political views are rooted in her Catholic faith and clarified she was unfamiliar with the publication.
The arrival of these newspapers led to confusion among some Catholic parishioners until church leaders issued clarifying statements. Reactions varied, with some discarding the publication while others expressed offense at its content. Questions have also arisen about why the Catholic Church has not been more forthright in condemning the misleading and potentially harmful rhetoric found within.
The mimicry of traditional newspaper aesthetics in the Catholic Tribune may capture more attention than digital misinformation efforts, according to Ben Lyons, an assistant professor at the University of Utah specializing in partisan misinformation. He noted that while online “pink slime” sites have limited reach, the tangible nature of mailed copies could have a more significant impact, particularly among older voters.
The complexities within the Catholic voting bloc, reflected in the near-even split during the 2020 Presidential election, make the influence of such publications noteworthy. Emphasizing figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Trump supporters within these papers highlights an attempt to sway undecided Catholic voters. However, inconsistencies and abrupt endings within articles underline the peculiarities and possible intentions behind these publications.
