Syndicate Names Priest as Editor of Column

News America Syndicate, which ran into trouble with the Vatican when it began a news column excerpting the writings of Pope John Paul II, named a Philadelphia parish priest as editor of the column.

The Rev. Joseph A. Vadino, 48, will begin immediately as editor of the syndicated column, which is published in about 200 newspapers. Richard Newcombe, president and chief executive officer of the Irvine-based syndicate, was expected to make the announcement early today in Vatican City along with the Rev. John P. Foley, the Vatican’s chief of communications.

News America Syndicate, part of Rupert Murdoch’s worldwide media empire, became the focus of controversy last month when it debuted the weekly column. The Vatican denounced the column, which was compiled by Alfred Bloch, a Vatican scholar, and offered through EAV Associates Inc., a New York literary agent. Newcombe said Bloch had assured News America he had Vatican approval to compile the column and was “stunned” when the Vatican denounced the column as unauthorized.

Newcombe said EAV apparently didn’t have the proper Vatican authorization for the column, a contention EAV has disputed.

The Rev. Vadino is assistant pastor of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia and has served as assistant editor of the English language edition of L’Osservatore Romano, which is the weekly Vatican newspaper.