The Catholic Herald is a Roman Catholic publication based in London. It posts consistently anti-transgender content in line with positions set forth by the Pope.
In 2026, The Catholic Herald was named in retracted reports by Amnesty International UK on anti-rights movements in that country.
Background
The Catholic Herald was established Charles Diamond as a weekly newspaper in 1888. Diamond was editor until dying in 1934. Following financial difficulties associated with Diamond’s estate, the newspaper was purchased later that year by Ernest Vernor Miles through New Catholic Herald Ltd. Miles’ first appointed editor Michael de la Bédoyère served from 1934 to 1962.
During the 1960s, the paper closely followed the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent implementation of Vatican II.
In 1999, they launched the website catholicherald.co.uk. Starting in 2004 under editor Luke Coppen, the newspaper significantly expanded its digital presence while maintaining its weekly print edition. In November 2018, Coppen relaunched the website at thecatholicherald.com.
In 2020, the Catholic Herald was acquired by Catholic Herald Ltd., backed by entrepreneur Rocco Forte and other investors. The paper relaunched with a redesigned print magazine and expanded online publication.
In 2023, a controlling 50.1 percent stake was acquired by GEM Global Yield LLC SCS, a New York-based private investment group with international operations. Editor-in-chief William Cash remained a shareholder and continued to lead the publication editorially, while GEM founder Christopher Brown became chair. The new owners announced plans to transform the Herald from a traditional British magazine into a global multimedia Catholic brand. In 2023, the owners also launched the US-based Catholic Herald Institute (EIN 88-3230077), a nonprofit intended to support events, multimedia production, and educational initiatives.
In 2025, the Catholic Herald secured additional equity investment from entrepreneur Patrick Gruhn, who joined the board.
People
Historic figures and editors
- Charles Diamond: Founder and editor (1888–1934)
- Ernest Vernor Miles: Founder, Catholic Herald Limited and purchaser of Catholic Herald (1934)
- Michael de la Bédoyère: Editor (1934–1962)
- Desmond Fisher: Editor (1962–1966)
- Desmond Albrow: Editor (1966–1971)
- Gerard Noel: Editor (1971–1975); Editor-in-Chief (1982–1984)
- Stuart Reid: Editor (1975–1976)
- Richard Dowden: Editor (1976–1979)
- Terry Sheehy: Editor (1979–1988)
- Peter Stanford: Editor (1988–1992)
- Cristina Odone: Editor (1992–1996)
- Deborah Jones: Editor (1996–1998)
- William Oddie: Editor (1998–2004)
- Luke Coppe: Editor (2004–2020)
- Dan Hitchens: Interim editor (2020–2021)
- William Cash: Editor (2021–2024)
- Serenhedd James: Editor (2024–2025)
- Edward Barrett-Shortt: Editor (2025–)
Selected publications
Caldwell, Simon (June 6, 2026). Cardinal Fernández prepares document on gender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/cardinal-fernandez-to-issue-document-on-gender-ideology
Hahn, David (August 5, 2026). How Amnesty turned against its founder’s vision. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/how-amnesty-turned-against-its-founders-vision
Craycraft, Ken (March 23, 2026). America’s legal pushback against transgender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/americas-legal-pushback-against-transgender-ideology
O’Hara, Jacqueline (February 21, 2026). The emperor’s new clothes: Americans turn against transgender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/americans-turn-against-transgender-ideology
Staff report (February 12, 2026). Argentinian archdiocese opens canonical investigation into transgender marriage. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/argentinian-archdiocese-opens-canonical-investigation-into-transgender-marriage
Staff report (February 19, 2026). Archbishop declares transgender marriage null. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/archbishop-declares-transgender-marriage-null
Haynes, Michael (November 11, 2025). What to make of the Italian bishops document on homosexual and transgender lifestyles. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/what-to-make-of-the-italian-bishops-document-on-homosexual-and-transgender-lifestyles
Caldwell, Simon (September 30, 2024). Cardinal Müller criticises Vatican penitential ceremony over its ‘checklist of woke and gender ideology.’ Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/cardinal-muller-criticises-vatican-penitential-ceremony-over-its-checklist-of-woke-and-gender-ideology
Caldwell, Simon (April 25, 2024). Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in ‘absolute harmony’ with Vatican against gender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/catholic-bishops-of-england-and-wales-in-absolute-harmony-with-vatican-against-gender-ideology
Allen, Elise (April 8, 2024). Vatican condemns ‘gender theory’ in new doctrinal document. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/vatican-condemns-gender-theory-in-new-doctrinal-document
Caldwell, Simon (October 9, 2023). Catholic teacher could be banned from profession for refusing to teach extreme gender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/catholic-teacher-could-be-banned-from-profession-for-refusing-to-teach-extreme-gender-ideology
Caldwell, Simon (May 18, 2023). Pope Benedict predicted gender ideology would be final rebellion against God. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/pope-benedict-predicted-gender-ideology-would-be-final-rebellion-against-god
Mullen, Shannon (April 29, 2023). Pope denounces ‘colonisation’ of gender ideology and abortion on trip to Hungary. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/pope-denounces-colonisation-of-gender-ideology-and-abortion-during-trip-to-hungary
Perrins, Laura (March 23, 2023). USCCB doctrinal note prohibiting transgender procedures is a welcome intervention. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/usccb-doctrinal-note-prohibiting-transgender-procedures-is-a-welcome-intervention
Perrins, Laura (March 15, 2023). Biden’s transgender agenda is extreme and inhumane. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/bidens-transgender-agenda-is-extreme-and-inhumane
Ashenden, Gavin (January 25, 2023). How the gender ideology war is destroying the lives of young girls. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/how-the-gender-ideology-war-is-destroying-the-lives-of-young-girls
Cash, William (January 2023; reposted February 11, 2026). After 135 years, the Herald begins new US ownership chapter. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/after-135-years-the-herald-begins-new-us-ownership-chapter
Bachmann, Elizabeth (June 12, 2019). US and English bishops welcome Vatican document on gender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/us-and-english-bishops-welcome-vatican-document-on-gender-ideology
Staff report (November 12, 2018). Welcome to our new website. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/welcome-to-our-new-website
Catholic News Service (February 28, 2017). Bishops’ committee chairmen applaud Trump’s transgender directive. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/bishops-committee-chairmen-applaud-trumps-transgender-directive
Milbank, John (January 13, 2017). Long read: What liberal intellectuals get wrong about transgenderism. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/long-read-what-liberal-intellectuals-get-wrong-about-transgenderism
Associated Press (October 13, 2016). Massachussetts transgender bathroom law faces legal challenge. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/massachussetts-transgender-bathroom-law-faces-legal-challenge
Staff report (August 17, 2016). Bishops in Colombia welcome Government’s decision to reject gender ideology. Catholic Herald https://thecatholicherald.com/article/bishops-in-colombia-welcome-governments-decision-to-reject-gender-ideology
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
The Catholic Herald (thecatholicherald.com)
- Transgender
- thecatholicherald.com/search?query=transgender
- original url catholicherald.co.uk [archive]
Facebook (facebook.com)
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LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
- The Catholic Herald
- linkedin.com/company/catholic-herald