La Croix is a French, Roman Catholic, daily newspaper. It is published in Paris and distributed throughout the country, with a circulation of just under 100,000. It is neither explicitly liberal or conservative on major political issues, but follows the Church's position although it is in general more progressive. However, La Croix ought not be confused with a religious newspaper—its topics are of general interest: world news, the economy, religion and spirituality, parenting, culture and science. The paper was founded in 1880 and is owned by Bayard Presse. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) The Eiffel Tower in Paris, as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... Ths article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Bayard Presse is a French press group, created just after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. ...

Early history

Upon its appearance in 1880, the first version of la Croix was a monthly news magazine. When the Augustinians of the Assumption who ran the paper realised that the monthly format was not getting the widespread readership they desired, they decided to convert to a daily sheet sold at one penny. Accordingly La Croix transitioned into a daily on 16 June 1883. Father Emmanuel d'Alzon (1810-1880), the founder of the Assumptionists and the Oblates of the Assumption, started the paper, although its biggest early advocate was Father Vincent-de-Paul Bailly. The Assumptionists (more properly called Augustinians of the Assumption) are a Roman Catholic religious order of brothers and priests. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

La Croix succeeded in bringing together certain groups of Catholics who were seeking to position themselves outside of party politics and ideologies — but during the Dreyfus affair it nonetheless adopted a strongly anti-Dreyfus stance. On 25 January 1900, the Assumptionists were dissolved by law by Waldeck-Rousseau, and the newspaper's publishing house, la Bonne Presse, was purchased by Paul Feron-Vrau. The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal which divided France during the 1890s and early 1900s. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Pierre Marie René Ernest Waldeck-Rousseau (December 2, 1846 - August 20, 1904) was a French statesman. ...

Renewal

For many years, la Croix appeared under two formats. The first was a small-format periodical aimed at popular readership, the second a large-format newspaper aimed at a more intellectual audience. In 1927, Father Merklen having become editor in chief, la Croix began to address social problems. This was led to the initiative to found Catholic Action and also helped to create a formal link between the Catholic working youth and the French Roman Catholic Church. Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

During the Second World War La Croix moved its editorial offices first to Bordeaux, then to Limoges. The paper was shut down comparatively late in the occupation, on 21 June 1944. It would not reappear until February 1945. Father Gabel oversaw the relaunching of the paper. Editor in chief from 1949, he introduced new sections, such as sports, cinema, fashion, and theatre. On 1 February 1956, La Croix began to appear for the first time without a crucifix as a part of its header. In March of 1968, the newspaper adopted a tabloid format. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the French commune. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Crucifix, a cross with corpus, a symbol used in Catholicism in contrast with some other Christian communions, which use only a cross. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In January 1972, the newspaper changed its name to la Croix-l’Événement ("Cross-Event"). The choice of the new title was a reflection of the editorship's desire to show that the paper was not just a religious paper, but a regular daily, reflective of modern society. The paper has a very loyal readership, as expressed by the fact that 87% of its sales are by subscription, but its low ad-space and the high cost of distribution still make the paper run on a deficit, which is covered by the other publications of Bayard Presse such as the magazine Le Pèlerin and a number of children's titles. Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bayard Presse is a French press group, created just after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1898 cover of Le Pèlerin. ...

Centennial

To celebrate its centennial in 1983, la Croix-l’Événement took on a newer, more attractive layout, added new sections and saw the arrival as editor in chief of Noël Copin. The readership continued to decline, but the new team led by Bruno Frappat, former editing director of Le Monde who arrived in January 1995, hopes to fight against this trend of general disaffectation with the press which is plaguing a large number of French newspapers. (A regular printing in 1998 would be of about 127,000 copies). The paper's efforts have met with some success and in 2005 reported a 1.55% increase in circulation. Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bayard Press is reacting to this with a double strategy. On the one hand they are investing in the modernisation of La Croix, with electronic editing and a full electronic archive of the paper. On the other hand, they have increased their diversification, taking on a bigger presence in French children's press and adding new publications of a Catholic nature. They have also been involved in coproducing children's television and turning certain titles, such as Notre temps, into international publications.

Recent developments

In December 2003, La Croix made headlines after firing one of its own journalists, Alain Hertoghe, for writing a book that was allegedly damaging to the newspaper's editorial line. Hertoghe accused the four major French newspapers—Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération and Ouest-France—in addition to La Croix, of biased reporting during the U.S. war in Iraq. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alain Hertoghe (b. ... Le Figaro (English: ) is one of the leading French morning daily newspapers. ... Libération (affectionately known as Libé) is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris in 1973 by Jean-Paul Sartre, Pierre Victor alias Benny Lévy and Serge July in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... The subject of this article is the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ...

Bibliography

ALain FLEURY, « La Croix » et l'Allemagne. 1930-1940, Paris, Le Cerf, 1986

External links

• La Croix online
• La Croix digital archives from 1883 to 1944 in Gallica, the digital library of the BnF
• Article on Alain Hertoghe in the International Herald Tribune (dead link).