By Daniel Payne
Jan 6, 2026 / 14:10 pm
Russell Shaw, a Catholic writer and journalist whose prolific career spanned decades including years of work for the U.S. bishops, died Jan. 6 at the age of 90.
Catholic writer Mike Aquilina announced Shaw’s death on Facebook, describing him as a “pundit, journalist, novelist, virtuoso of friendship,” and a “mentor” to those in Catholic media.
Born May 19, 1935, in Washington, D.C., Shaw attended Gonzaga High School and then Georgetown University, at which he eventually obtained a master of arts degree in English literature in 1960.
He would subsequently go on to write for the Catholic Standard, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., after which he joined the staff of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC) News Service.
Shaw’s work at NCWC began what would become years of association with the U.S. bishops — first at the welfare conference and eventually as the director of the National Catholic Office for Information at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference.
He served a variety of roles there including as associate secretary for communication and secretary for public affairs. He served as press secretary of the U.S. delegations to the world Synods of Bishops held in Rome between 1971 and 1987 and was the national coordinator of media relations during Pope John Paul II’s pastoral visits to the U.S. in 1979 and 1987.
Later in his career, Shaw worked as a freelance writer, including years of columns written for CNA as well as for CNA’s sister news partner the National Catholic Register.
The author of more than 20 books, including works on ethics and moral theology, he also contributed to the New Catholic Encyclopedia and the Catholic Social Sciences Encyclopedia.
Shaw was predeceased by his wife, Carmen, to whom he was married for more than 50 years. The Shaws leave behind five children and numerous grandchildren.
Aquilina in announcing his passing said Shaw “wrote thousands of articles and dozens of books” and described him as a “wise man.”
Catholic writer and National Review Institute Senior Fellow Kathryn Jean Lopez, meanwhile, called the news of Shaw’s death “heartbreaking” and described him as “a good/great man who loved Jesus.”
She told CNA on Jan. 6 that Shaw “loved God, his family, and was wise about the realities of the Church in the world.”
“He knew that the Church is not just the clergy, but all of us, working toward heaven together,” Lopez said.
She said he possessed a “unique gift for being able both to work for the institutions of the Church and retain the freedom of Christ at the same time.”
“God surely blessed us with the life of Russell Shaw,” she continued. “May we be worthy of the gift by answering the call to holiness he dedicated his life to.”
Shaw’s work, meanwhile, provides Catholics in media “a great example and legacy to learn from,” she said.
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