by Joshua J. McElwee
The Jesuit-run America magazine, the only weekly Catholic magazine in the U.S., announced Tuesday the selection of a new editor-in-chief, Jesuit scholastic* Matt Malone.
Malone, a 40-year-old contributor to the magazine, succeeds Jesuit Fr. Drew Christiansen, who has served in the post since 2005.
"I’m honored by this appointment and grateful to be able to return to America. The publication has a storied tradition and is well positioned for a bright future," said Malone of his appointment, according to an announcement of the news Tuesday morning in a blog post by Jesuit Fr. James Martin.
"America’s mission has never been more relevant," continued Malone. "Questions of faith and culture, democracy and Catholicism -- the very questions that America has explored for more than a century -- will continue to dominate the public argument. I look forward to continuing the conversation.”
According to the announcement, Malone, who is to be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, assumes the post at America in October. Christiansen, according to the release, is to "assume a senior academic appointment at a leading Jesuit university" after a year on sabbatical.
Malone will be the second Jesuit to accede to the post at the magazine since the forced resignation of Jesuit Fr. Tom Reese in 2005.
Reese, who served as America's editor from 1998-2005, resigned at the request of his order in May 2005 following years of pressure for his ouster from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Before serving as the magazine's editor, Christiansen was a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University and had served as counselor for international affairs for the U.S. bishops' conference.
*The original version of this posting incorrectly identified Malone's honorific.
