Last week Tito put together a list of his favorite 25 Catholic websites, using Google Reader subscriber numbers. While I take one commenter’s point that rankings are often vanity projects, I think they can also be a great way to discover new Catholic blogs, particularly for those (like me) who are relatively new to the Catholic blogosphere. I certainly enjoyed the new blogs I discovered while compiling this list.
The following list is based on Technorati authority, which hopefully will be a little more consistent than the Google Reader subscriber numbers. Additionally, blogging is a collaborative process, and Technorati authority should reflect some of the best places to go for Catholic conversation on the web. Feel free to leave any corrections or other blogs that should be included in the comments. Happy reading!
1) What Does the Prayer Really Say? 482
2) Conversion Diary 406
3) Inside Catholic 382
4) Whispers in the Loggia 358
5) The Curt Jester 339
6) Creative Minority Report 293
7) Catholic & Enjoying It! 264
8 ) Rorate Caeli 259
9) Per Christum 253
10) National Catholic Register (Daily Blog) 246
11) First Things 217
12) Standing On My Head 160
13) Shrine of the Holy Whapping 158
14) Happy Catholic 152
15) Faith & Family 144
16) The Deacon’s Bench 137
17) Jimmy Akin 126
18) Insight Scoop (The Ignatius Press Blog) 124
19) dotCommonweal 124
20) Catholic Church Conservation 122
21) Damian Thompson (Holy Smoke) 117
22) The Ironic Catholic 116
23) Danielle Bean 115
24) Catholic Fire 109
25) Vox Nova 107
Notable Exclusions: I had difficulty finding Technorati rankings for American Papist, Via Media (Amy Welborn’s new blog), The New Liturgical Movement, and the Anchoress (recently transitioned to being hosted by First Things). As each of these excellent blogs would easily fit in the top 25, their names are included here. I have also excluded The American Catholic from the rankings (TA – 109) , as presumably anyone reading this post is already familiar with it.
Tito Edwards
Rusty Tisdale
Walter
Christopher Blosser
Joe of St. Thérèse
Donald R. McClarey
DarwinCatholic
Zach
Chris Burgwald
David Curp
Ryan Harkins
Eric Brown
John Henry
Joe Hargrave
Tim Shipe
Elaine Krewer
Blackadder
Dave Hartline
Michael Denton
The TAC Editors
Justin Aquila
Mr. Smith
M.J. Andrew
David Jones
John Henry,
Thanks for putting this together. I had difficulty in compiling the numbers since Technorati keeps changing their layout every 6-12 months.
As for that particular blogger you mentioned about vanity, that was just a cheap shot intended to demean me. Just par for the course emanating from him.
Well I do like a listing that puts me at #5, but yeah surely Amy and Thomas Peters would be in the top 5.
Thanks for putting this list together. What a great resource!
Also, it was an interesting lesson in humility (or lack thereof) to see my Google Reader numbers off so far in the last post. I *thought* I was detached from caring about stats. Turns out I’m not.
Great list!
Jennifer,
I’m still tinkering with the Google list trying to figure out how to get the numbers right.
You have an awesome blog by the way, I enjoy reading all the conversion stories!
I have also excluded The American Catholic from the rankings (TA – 109) , as presumably anyone reading this post is already familiar with it.
As is so often the case, the footnote includes the zinger…
How has this post been up for 18 hours without half a dozen comments from multiple Vox Nova contributors complaining about something?
Thanks Jen. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for years; my wife and several of our friends love participating in the Seven Quick Takes.
I’m very happy to see Jennifer at #2! What a story!
In general, I’m surprised Jay Anderson got left out.
Tito:
I don’t think “that blogger” meant it as a cheap shot. I think other bloggers were more the target, including one that didn’t make the list but is certainly prone to devoting exceptional amounts of time promoting his/her participation in online contests of blog popularity.
Hmmmm. That’s strange. I haven’t checked Technorati in a while, but Southern Appeal use to have an authority rating of around 140, and it is now at 81. Odd. Very odd.
Hmmmm. That’s strange. I haven’t checked Technorati in a while, but Southern Appeal use to have an authority rating of around 140, and it is now at 81. Odd. Very odd.
You picked the Braves to win the World Series, of course you lost a lot of authority!
feddie,
Technorati Authority: Technorati Authority is the number of blogs linking to a website in the last six months.
http://support.technorati.com/faq/topic/71?replies=1
As far as bragging rights go, keep in mind that cat blogging is still more popular than running a Catholic blog.
As far as bragging rights go, keep in mind that cat blogging is still more popular than running a Catholic blog.
Always a good reminder, M.Z.
So…#22…does this mean I get to play in the Peach Bowl?
Thank you guys for the kind words! I really appreciate it.
http://www.chapletoftearsofmysorrows.com
I’d like to submit a new blog for consideration next year:
Caritas et Veritas – http://caritasetveritas.com
[...] Honorable Mentioned: [...]
Thanks for this list of Catholic blogs.
I like it.
Rgds, Budi
Hello! Thank you for the list! Just last month a group of 10 young women and myself began a blog for Catholic young women. It is called: Maria’s Lilies: A “purely” Catholic blog by young women for young women. Please keep us in your bookmarks! http://blog.saintmariasmessenger.com
God bless!
Thanks for this list – I will have to check each of these blogs out –
—todd
http:\catholicsojourner.blogspot.com