The focus of my blog is how the media covers religious issues in society. Most of the people – outside of North America and much of Europe – adhere to a faith tradition, which influences them personally, communally, nationally, and globally. Even atheists/humanists have a belief system which is their de facto religion/philosophy. Belief and culture intersect in countless ways every single day in our world, from the U.S. Presidential campaign to the plight of girls seeking a simple education in Afghanistan & Pakistan. I hope to be able to highlight how religion influences every part of human existence. My expertise is in Christianity, specifically the Catholic Church, but I have some knowledge of other Christian denominations, Judaism, and Islam.
I am a “cradle” Catholic, which means I was born and raised in the Catholic Church. I spent 11 out of 12 years in Catholic schools growing up. I was a seminarian for 6 1/2 years, first with the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (Paulists) from 2008 – 2013 and then the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 2013 – 2014. I studied philosophy and theology at The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) and completed my theological and ministerial graduate degree at St. Mary’s Seminary & University (Baltimore, MD). I also have a certificate in Ecumenism from the Washington (DC) Theological Consortium. I have spent time in more than a dozen dioceses across North America, which has provided me an opportunity to see the many similarities and slight differences of religious cultures present in different places.
My journalism experience includes 5 years as a local, TV news producer from 1994-1999. In 1995, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the P.I. Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University majoring in Broadcast News and minoring in Political Science. I am currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Journalism from the Reed College of Media at WVU.
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