Disclosed is a method of halogenating the ring of an aromatic compound. The aromatic compound is contacted with a halogenating agent in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is the calcination reaction product of: (A) 51 to 99 wt % of a support which comprises at least one inorganic oxide or hydroxide of at least one metal that is at least divalent and forms a metal-to-oxygen matrix during calcination; and (B) 1 to 49 wt % of at least one dopant which comprises a compound that places an element that is at least divalent, bonded to oxygen atoms, into said matrix during said calcination, resulting in the formation of an acidic solid.