Bishop Mueller endorses The Globe

Posted April 24, 2003

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter by Bishop Joseph M. Mueller appeared in the first edition of The Globe that was printed on April 30, 1953.

To the Clergy, Religious and Faithful, Greetings:

It gives me great pleasure to lend my hearty endorsement to our new diocesan newspaper, The Globe.

Looking back but a few years to the beginning of the Catholic Press in Northwest Iowa, we see that the printed word has produced rich fruits. It has increased parochial loyalty; it has made militant Catholics, and it has served well to unify the Diocese and to produce a Catholic solidarity.

We are Catholics. Therefore, our interests are not merely local, national, or continental. They are as universal as the Church, literally extending around the globe. It is the Catholic newspaper that keeps us correctly informed.

As a weapon of truth and freedom the Catholic Press has felt the cruel blows of the Red hammer. Where Communists rule, the Catholic Press is suppressed. As atheistic forces took over one Catholic country after another their first action was not the closing of the churches and schools. They silenced the Catholic Press! Their strongest enemy was their first target. Those silent presses are mute but powerful reminders of the high mission and beneficent service of our Catholic newspapers. Their very silence has but more sharply defined for freedom loving peoples the great need and indispensable good of the Catholic Press.

Our new publication will continue to be united with Catholic newspapers all over the world in the one great objective of advancing the honor and glory of God, the God-given rights of men, and the sanctification of individual readers.

To the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Patroness of the Diocese of Sioux City, and to St. Francis de Sales, Patron of the Catholic Press, I dedicate this instrument of truth and freedom.

May I once again urge the loyal cooperation of all the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese in assuring success to our new Catholic weekly - The Globe.

Devotedly yours in Christ,

†Jos. M Mueller
Bishop of Sioux City

(The first issue of The Globe, the diocese's first independent newspaper, was printed on April 30, 1953. Some of the writers on the first Globe staff were men and women whose first association with a Catholic newspaper in the Diocese of Sioux City was the publication of The Catholic Campaigner. The Campaigner was established to inform the people of Sioux City parishes of the need for and progress of plans for the eventually erection of the new Heelan High School. Msgr. Kevane served as editor-in-chief. It existed from Nov. 10, 1948 until Bishop Mueller founded the Sioux City Sunday Visitor, which was published in Huntington, Ind.)