The Catholic Answer Writer's Guidelines

The mission of The Catholic Answer magazine is to help readers answer important questions about Catholic faith, practice and tradition, and to apply these insights to their everyday lives. Our goal is to publish articles and columns that are faithful to the teachings of the Church. They must also be engaging, clear, concise, convincing, compelling, charitable, accessible, informed by the best available scholarship and sensitive to pastoral concerns.

Our Focus

The word "answer" in the name of the magazine is an important key to maintaining its focus. We always ask about any piece we consider for publication: “If this is the Catholic answer, then what’s the question?” Our readers, too, after finishing the piece, should be able to identify not only the subject matter addressed, but also the particular question (or cluster of related questions) answered.

Our goal, then, is not simply to inform, persuade, and inspire. We aim to do these things by answering specific questions of importance to Catholics. These questions will usually fall into one of three categories:

• Important questions Catholics often ask

• Important questions Catholics are often asked by non-Catholics

• Important questions Catholics should be asking

The cover letter (email) accompanying your manuscript should identify the question(s) answered. In addition, the question should appear somewhere in the manuscript itself, either within the text or as a title, subtitle or subheading.

Topics of Interest

• the Scripture

• the Sacraments

• Catholic doctrine

• Catholic moral teaching

• Catholic liturgy

• Other Catholic practices (sacramentals, devotions, the Church calendar, etc.)

• Catholic history (especially the lives and writings of the saints)

• Application of Catholic faith to common situations in everyday life

• Understanding and responding to other religious traditions in light of the Catholic faith

• Issues in secular culture and society of interest to Catholics

 Style, Format, Specifications

• Write for a popular readership.

• For specific matters of style, consult the Associated Press Stylebook or, if you have access to it, the Catholic News Service Stylebook on Religion.

•  Contrary to these style guides, however, we ask you to capitalize all pronouns referring to Deity (except who, whose, and whom).

• Manuscripts should be no longer than 1200 words without prior consultation with the editor. Shorter than 1200 words is fine, with a minimum of 500. We especially need shorter pieces of about 1000 words.

• Boxes and sidebars related to your article are welcome, but they should be included in the 1200-word limit.

• When you quote Scripture, please note the Bible translation you are using.

• Keep in mind that brief subheadings within the text help move the reader along.

• Quotes of up to fifty words should be attributed to a particular source within the text. Quotes of more than fifty words must include a footnote with full bibliographic data for the source.  (You may also include such a footnote for shorter quotes if you think the typical reader would appreciate having that information.) Keep quotations brief.

• Include a one- or two-sentence author biographical statement.

• We prefer to receive manuscripts by email. To avoid the transfer of viruses, please cut and paste your manuscript into the body of the email message rather than sending it as an attachment. Send to the editor, Dr. Paul Thigpen, at pthigpen@osv.com.

• If you prefer to send your manuscript by mail, please make sure the hard copy is typed and double-spaced on standard 8 ½ x 11 paper. Mail to:

Dr. Paul Thigpen
POB 30157
Savannah, GA 31410-0157

• The publisher provides all artwork and photos.
• Normal payment is $200 upon acceptance. To receive payment, you must include your full name, Social Security number, and current mailing address. Please include as well your daytime phone number in case we have questions for you.