The Remnant traces its roots back to The Wanderer, the "parent paper" of The Remnant and the oldest Catholic weekly newspaper in the United States. The Remnant was a result of a dispute between Walter Matt, the editor of The Wanderer who served the paper for over thirty years, and his brother Alphonse Matt. Walter Matt opposed the changes within the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council; Alphonse Matt supported them. Walter Matt left The Wanderer, which remained under Alphonse, to start The Remnant in 1967. The paper has described itself as the flagship of the traditional Catholic movement in the United States. The Remnant is now edited by Walter Matt's youngest son, Michael J. Matt. Notable traditionalists who have written for the paper include Thomas Woods, Christopher Ferrara, John C. Rao, and Michael Davies. From 2005 to 2013, The Remnant was a very vigorous defender of the pontificate of Benedict XVI as its writers believe he has vindicated them on issues that have divided them from other Traditionalists and from conservative Catholics associated with The Wanderer, EWTN, and Catholic Answers. Under the current pontificate of Pope Francis, the newspaper has heavily criticized his policies.
Additional projects
After producing daily video updates from Rome after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave which ultimately elected Pope Francis, The Remnant began producing video commentary and events coverage under the title of Remnant TV. Remnant TV releases weekly talk show styled YouTube videos in three series: Remnant TV Forum, Remnant Special Report, and The Remnant Underground. Michael Matt is the host and principal commentator; regular guests include contributors to the Remnant, and other Catholic commentators.
The Remnant has hosted and organized tours and pilgrimages to the Holy Land and throughout Europe under the name "Remnant Tours". It has also organized the United States Chapter of the three-day Chartres Pilgrimage, a seventy-mile walking pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres during Pentecost weekend.
Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong has described The Remnant as "radical Catholic reactionary." The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated The Remnant and the Remnant Press as hate groups under the "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" category, which the SPLC defines as "organizations that embrace anti-Semitism and whose theology is typically rejected by the Vatican and mainstream Catholics in general." The Remnant editors reject this label, "The charge of anti-Semitism leveled against The Remnant is sickening and false on its face" also noting their belief that anti-Semitism is a mortal sin, and that the organization is peaceful.
