Web Advertising Policy

The Our Sunday Visitor web site shares the same mission as our print products: "To Serve the Church". Just as we carefully screen the advertising for our print products, we screen online advertisements. An advertisement is just that … a paid advertisement, not an endorsement by OSV of the advertised website or product. It is not to be confused with an article or an editorial.

Following is the creed of the American Federation of Advertising, principles that Our Sunday Visitor subscribes to fully.

Good Advertising:

• aims to inform the consumer and help to buy more intelligently
• tells the truth, avoiding misstatements of facts as well as possible deception through implications or omission
• makes no claims which cannot be met in full and without further qualification. It uses only testimonials of competent witnesses
• conforms to generally accepted standards of good taste
• seeks public acceptance on the merits of the product or service advertised, rather than by the disparagement of competitors
• avoids practices that are offensive or annoying

Advertising Acceptability:

All advertisements offered for publication on Our Sunday Visitor site(s) are subject to acceptance by the Publisher. Questionable, confusing, misleading, controversial or fraudulent statements, will be declined. Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time without cause. General Conditions for print ads are available on rate cards.

Advertising Guidelines:

• Art in ads- Normal rules of good taste apply
• Altar wines - Acceptable
• Abortion clinics, Pro Abortion, artificial contraception or sterilization ads- Not Acceptable
• Political ads – Not Acceptable
• Tobacco ads – Not Acceptable
• Personal ads; such as those advertising for marriage, companionship etc., - Not acceptable
• Ads verging on superstition (fortune tellers-readers, etc.) -- Not Acceptable
• Apparitions and self-revelations must have approval of Church officials
• Advertorials – Our Sunday Visitor does not accept advertisements that are solely arguing a specific editorial position (such as the famous Mobil Oil ads that used to run in daily papers years ago)
• Ads that appear to promote a good or service to be contrary to the best interest of our readers- Final judgment rests with the Publisher