Founded in 1905 by the Society of Jesus, it was the only independent newspaper in Guyana during the turbulent period of strongman President Forbes Burnham's rule, and it played a large role in the Guyanese struggle for democracy.

[2] During the turbulent political era of the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, the Catholic Standard played a pivotal role in the Guyanese struggle for democracy.

[5][6][7] His mission as editor, he said, was:"to change the character and image of the paper to reflect a more militant church's concern for the people [...] I was determined to ensure that while I was editor, the Standard would not merely publish the usual religious news items but also demonstrate an awareness of the public issues of the day by analyzing and commenting with fairness and courage on those issues.

"[5]Indeed, Wong did transform the Standard, from a modest diocesan bulletin to a more widely circulated newspaper with a strong pro-democracy message.

[7] The newspaper's new direction, especially harsh criticism of the 1973 election, brought Wong into tense conflict with President Forbes Burnham, Guyana's dictator at the time.

Bernard Darke, a part-time photographer of the Catholic Standard,[9] was stabbed to death in broad daylight by the House of Israel, a black cult-like group[10] now believed to have been on the payroll of the Burnham government.

[3] Most now believe that Morrison was the actual target,[3][11] and that the Guyanese government had orchestrated the murder as a response to the Catholic Standard's "extremely critical" coverage of the regime.

"[3]Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, especially during the reign of Desmond Hoyte, the Catholic Standard remained one of Guyana's few independent newspapers, and Editor Fr.

Andrew Morrison gained international recognition for himself and the newspapers, receiving six awards for his and the Standard's struggle for press freedom and the implementation of democracy in Guyana.