Catholic Insight prints its final edition

TORONTO - After more than two decades, Catholic Insight magazine has published for the last time. The magazine’s April issue will be its final one.

“The magazine has folded because the subscriber list was low,” said David Beresford, who took over as editor of Catholic Insight two-and-a-half years ago following the retirement of the magazine’s founder, Fr. Alphonse de Valk. “I was always concerned that it would be almost impossible to fill his shoes. It was a good try but for financial reasons the board decided to close.”

Beresford said readership had been in decline since peaking in 2007. He did not provide figures.

“There is an aging demographic in the country which was part of the issue and print media is going through a change,” he said. “We were still pushing a print product on a demographic that is increasingly looking to electronic media.”

First published in 1993, the magazine sought to provide a Catholic perspective and thoughtful reflection on matters of national importance.

“There was a real need in Canada for a Canadian voice that represented the Canadian Church. It was to try to take a look at some deeper issues that are not quite so time sensitive. That kind of analysis that we were bringing I don’t think exists in Canada.”

A reader of Catholic Insight since issue number one, Beresford said that while he is sad over its demise, having the opportunity to guide it as editor was an honour.

“For two-and-a-half years I had an opportunity I had never dreamed I’d have and I have nothing but gratitude,” he said. “I kept the readership from when I took over but publishing in general was declining in terms of number of subscribers. In many ways it was a gentle demise as opposed to a sudden end with (de Valk’s) retirement.”