Bishop John England Award
For Defending First Amendment Rights of the Publisher
Honoring publishers who defend religious freedom and a free press
Since 1992, the Bishop John England Award has recognized publishers of CMA member publications who have shown leadership and courage in defending First Amendment rights, press freedom and the Church's institutional voice.
Nominations are not currently open.
A Pioneer of the Catholic Press
Bishop John England was a renowned defender of religious liberty and a prodigious journalist and publisher. In 1822, while serving as bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, he founded The United States Catholic Miscellany, the first Catholic newspaper in the United States.
The Catholic Press Association, now the Catholic Media Association, inaugurated the Bishop John England Award for the Defense of Religious Freedom in 1992 under its president, Arthur McKenna. The idea came from Father John Igoe, editor of One Voice, the diocesan newspaper of Birmingham, Alabama. He proposed that the association honor publishers who use the Catholic press to defend the rights of religion and of individuals in a free society.
Nomination Criteria
Who is eligible
The publisher of a CMA member publication. Clergy and laypeople are both eligible.
What the award honors
Clear action taken in the role of publisher to defend the publication, or to use it in keeping with its mission to defend First Amendment rights.
Whose rights
The rights of the publisher, the institution that owns the publication or the Catholic Church as a whole.
Who may nominate
Any CMA member may submit a nomination during the nomination period.
Official criteria
The recipient of the Bishop John England Award should clearly have acted in their role as publisher of a CMA member publication and clearly have acted in defense of the publication or used their publications, in accordance with its mission, to defend the First Amendment rights of the publisher, the institution owning the publication, and/or the Catholic Church as a whole. The award recipient may or may not be a cleric.
How the Recipient Is Selected
Member nominations, a review by CMA's past presidents and a vote of the full membership lead to the presentation at the Catholic Media Conference.
- Step 1: NominationsWhen nominations openAny CMA member may submit a nomination.
- Step 2: Committee reviewUp to five finalistsA committee of all living CMA past presidents selects the candidates.
- Step 3: Membership voteFirst and second choiceCMA members rank their top two candidates.
- Step 4: PresentationCatholic Media ConferenceThe award is presented at the association's annual gathering.
First and second place votes are counted separately, not combined into a point total. The candidate with the most first place votes wins. In the event of a tie, the candidate with the most second place votes wins.
Past Recipients
- 2020Bishop Nicholas DiMarzioThe Tablet
- 2019Msgr. John E. KozarONE Magazine
- 2018Most Rev. Gerald F. KicanasTucson, AZ
- 2017Thomas C. FoxNational Catholic Reporter
- 2016Greg ErlandsonOur Sunday Visitor
- 2015Francis Cardinal GeorgeChicago, IL
- 2014Donald Cardinal WuerlWashington, DC
- 2013Most Rev. David D. KaganBismarck, ND
- 2012Most Rev. Matthew H. ClarkRochester, NY
- 2011Most Rev. Daniel Buechlein, OSBIndianapolis, IN
- 2010Most Rev. Joseph A. GalanteCamden, NJ
- 2009Most Rev. Daniel PilarczykCincinnati, OH
- 2008Richard RitterExtensions Magazine
- 2007Rev. Jeremy Harrington, OFMSt. Anthony Messenger
- 2006Most Rev. Alfred C. HughesNew Orleans, LA
- 2005Most Rev. Raymond J. BolandKansas City, KS
- 2004Most Rev. John C. Favalora, Most Rev. Norbert M. Dorsey, Most Rev. Gerald M. Barbarito, Most Rev. Sean P. O'Malley, Most Rev. John H. Ricard, Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch and Most Rev. John J. NevinsThe Florida Catholic
- 2003Gerald CostelloThe Christophers
- 2002Most Rev. Anthony G. BoscoGreensburg, PA
- 2001Most Rev. Harry Joseph FlynnMinneapolis, MN
- 2000John Cardinal O'ConnorNew York, NY
- 1999Bernard Cardinal LawBoston, MA
- 1998Father Robert Astorino, MMUnion of Catholic Asian News
- 1997Most Rev. David B. ThompsonCharleston, SC
- 1996Neil and Patricia KluepfelTwenty-Third Publications
- 1995Most Rev. James A. MaloneYoungstown, OH
- 1994Most Rev. Joseph T. O'KeefeSyracuse, NY
The Bishop John England Award is one of four individual honors presented by the Catholic Media Association, alongside its annual awards programs.
Explore all CMA awards and honors