Joshua J. McElwee

Joshua J. McElwee was NCR's news editor from 2021-24. He was previously the publication's Vatican correspondent from 2014-21, where his dispatches from Rome and during papal trips abroad were frequently cited by his peers, and broadly seen as a touchstone for nuanced Vatican and papal coverage. 

Among McElwee's most noted work was his years-long, tenacious coverage of Pope Francis' clergy abuse commission, which through a series of exclusive interviews with ex-members of the group revealed serious shortcomings to its work.

McElwee was also the first journalist to break the news of Pope Francis' promise during a meeting with an international group of sisters and nuns in 2016 to create a commission to study the history of the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church.

McElwee reported for NCR from 39 countries and traveled for the publication in the press pool abroad with Pope Francis 24 times. 

By this Author

Morning Briefing

Congressman: On immigration reform, Catholics need pulpit speak

Pelosi thanks Catholic university heads for immigration stance

University presidents: Immigration reform a 'moral obligation'

Catholic university presidents: US immigration system undermines nation's best values

Dolan's adviser defends cemetery fund money transfer

Key bishop asks Congress to protect nutrition aid

Catholic Health Association claims HHS victory as bishops continue contraception fight

Pope Francis and a church that changes

With sainthood decree, Francis stokes John XXIII comparisons

Dolan vows to continue fight over contraception mandate

U.S. bishops, religious leaders decry HHS mandate as 'coercive'

Report illuminates eight decades of Capuchin province's poor handling of sex abuse

Capuchin admission puts spotlight on sex abuse reporting for orders

Key bishop questions US drone warfare, says indiscriminate

Pope's remarks on religious orders confirmed 'in a general sense'

Joseph Sullivan, auxiliary bishop with wide impact on US church, dies

Spate of Catholic school firings happen without official church policy

College Theology Society signals possible détente with bishops at annual meeting

Theologian to peers: Teach 'faith received from the church'

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