AustLit

The Freeman's Journal was established in June 1850 by Archdeacon John McEncroe as a Catholic newspaper. For much of its life, the Freeman's Journal espoused liberal and non-sectarian views, though it tended to focus mainly on Church and Irish news, rather than on day to day events and political news.

Whilst it was not an official Church newspaper, the Freeman's Journal nevertheless generally supported the official Church line, the exception being during its initial period, when under the editorship of D'Arcy, Moore and then Heydon, it was deeply embroiled in Church politics.

Despite the intentions of its founder, the Freeman's Journal did not always remain aloof from political controversy either. In the later 1860s, under the editorship of radical Irish nationalist Richard O'Sullivan, its strongly sectarian position alienated Catholics and Protestants alike, and following the attempted assassination of H. R. H. Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, in Sydney in 1868, it was targeted by the New South Wales Government for its supposed disloyalty. However, its fortunes were restored during Thomas Butler's editorship, when the newspaper returned to a less sectarian, liberal position, and enjoyed a lengthy period of stability and prosperity.

Following Butler's departure, the Freeman's Journal developed political affiliations with the emerging Labor Party. Throughout its life, the Freeman's Journal remained a consistent advocate and supporter of Catholic education.

The Freeman's Journal's successor, the Catholic Weekly notes that the Journal 'was able to draw on the best minds of the day to become an eminently intelligent source, one that was never out of touch with what was happening in the local community. One of its greatest achievements was its work for Catholic education and its tireless (although unsuccessful in its time) crusade against unfair discrimination of denominational schools.' (www.catholicweekly.com.au/)