At the Service of the Church | Thomas Peters discusses his popular blog | Interview by Jeremy Lott | May 2009 issue of Catholic World Report
Thomas Peters is the owner of the popular Catholic insider blog American Papist, which recently received its two millionth visitor. Peters has attracted a large audience by regularly giving readers smart, quick news and analysis of all things Catholic: from papal appointments to scandals to new ministries. Peters talked with CWR about blogging, Notre Dame, Barack Obama, and the “Papist Picture of the Day.”
CWR: The title of your blog is interesting. Many Catholics would not use the term “papist” to describe themselves, or would do so half jokingly. You provide an actual definition for readers. (“n. A Catholic who is a strong advocate of the papacy.”) Are you trying to rehabilitate the term?
Thomas Peters: I’m not necessarily trying to rehabilitate the term, I’m trying to rehabilitate the idea that following the pope is, in the final analysis, a really good idea. “Papist” is, of course, historically a term of derision used against Catholics. Using the term to describe myself is both a way to send a clear message about who I am, and it challenges the world to confront and (ultimately, I pray) discard the anti-Catholicism that has dogged the Church, particularly since the Enlightenment. Give us a second look—we’re nice people.
CWR: Why do you blog? What do you hope to accomplish with your website?
Peters: I blog because the topics I cover interest me, and people tell me that it’s useful to them. My set of goals for American Papist has developed over time as my circumstances have changed and its popularity has increased. I hope American Papist is a service to the Church, and specifically to Catholics in America.
I don’t necessarily have a plan for where it’s going to go next, but whatever decisions I’ve made so far, in general, seem to have been for the good. I’ve tried to embrace the flexibility of the blog format that lets me go where the story is, and change course quickly to focus on something that’s important at the moment. Long-term I think I’ve retained readers because of focusing on highly important stories, providing reliable commentary that is hopefully at least a tad more informed, and well, the Papist Picture of the Day seems to keep people smiling.
Read the entire interview...
And to think I knew Thom Peters when ....
It's funny that you look around and the young people you thought you had to guide are developing into pretty good guides themselves. Which is not to say that they have arrived or that they still don't have things to learn.
But then we older folk haven't arrive yet either and we still have a thing or two left to learn. In fact, maybe even a thing or two from the next generation.
Posted by: Mark Brumley | Monday, May 11, 2009 at 06:33 PM
AmP's growing no-holds barred coverage of scandal within the Church could take a sober lesson from this blog, and others.
Posted by: Rachelle | Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 06:10 AM
MB, I think the same thing when I see articles by, oh, Catherine Harmon or Joseph Previtalli. :)
Posted by: Ed Peters | Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 07:02 AM