Catholic Press

[1] Sydney clergy had heeded the urgings of Pope Leo XIII, who called for Catholic newspapers to "counteract the appalling efforts of torrents of infidel filth that deluge the homes of our people, that desecrate the sacred sanctuary of family life, that poison the fountain-springs of society", and sought to establish a second Catholic newspaper.

The Catholic Press and Australian Workers' Union newspaper The Worker were the only two newspapers in Australia to oppose conscription in 1916-17, and also supported home rule for Ireland after 1916.

[2][4] Ryan's editorial stance against conscription was contrary to the views of Michael Kelly, Archbishop of Sydney, yet the newspaper printed many of Kelly's sermons supporting conscription and the war.

[2] The paper's circulation in 1917 was double that of 1916[4] and Ryan remained editor until he died in 1922.

[5] The newspaper has been digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program,[6] a project hosted by the National Library of Australia.