Legatus wins three international press awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Legatus’ monthly membership magazine picked up three international press awards here on June 26.

At its annual convention, the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada presented Legatus magazine with a third-place award for Best Coverage of Religious Liberty Issues for the second consecutive year. Judging is conducted “by a group of experts and Catholic press professionals,” according to CPA guidelines.

Lance Richey

The religious liberty category called for three articles. Winning submissions included “Catholic health care: A thing of the past?” by Matthew Rarey (April 2014), “Cultivating the virtues of subsidiarity” by Lance Richey (June 2014), and “The Supreme Court’s remarkable affirmation of religious liberty” by Kevin Theriot (September 2014).

Kevin Theriot

Judges wrote that Legatus‘ entries provided “a powerful counter-narrative to what is often believed is a liberal agenda defined by compassion alone.”

Editor-in-Chief Patrick Novecosky received Honorable Mention for his editorial entitled “Difficult times for Americans, desperate times for Iraqi Christians.”

Judges commended Novecosky’s work: “Very interesting and timely. Generally well written.”

Patrick Novecosky

The magazine also picked up an Honorable Mention nod in the General Excellence category, recognizing Novecosky and his staff: Sabrina Arena Ferrisi (senior staff writer), Judy Roberts (staff writer), Shawna Kunz (designer), Mary Ellen Klask (proofreader), and Matthew Rarey (former editorial assistant).

“A mixed agenda gives this magazine a surprising array of content: reports on regional news, major stories on efforts supported by the group and analysis of the Obama administration’s merger of the U.S. embassy to the Vatican with the embassy to Italy,” judges wrote. “Feature section on the culture of life, ethics, and healthnet complement book and music review sections.”

Legatus magazine has won 21 Catholic Press Association awards for graphic design, writing and its website since it gained CPA membership in 2005.

Founded in 1911, the Catholic Press Association is composed of 238 member newspapers, magazines, and newsletters throughout the United States and Canada. This year’s contest winners were chosen among 2,528 press submissions in dozens of categories.