Catholic by Choice

Last week in New York the homosexual equivalency agenda advanced their cutural revolution and dealt one more blow against marriage – and the family and society founded upon it. I call this effort a “homosexual equivalency movement” to reflect the goal of its leaders. They are dedicated to building a society where the positive law…

On Thursday June 23, 2010,at 7 p.m., the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Holy Father celebrated Mass on the square in front of Rome’s St. John Lateran Basilica. Following this Liturgy he presided at the traditional Eucharistic procession from the basilica, along Via Merulana, to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Vatican offices were closed…

There is a Latin maxim that addresses the centrality of worship in the life, identity and mission of the Catholic Church; “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi”. The phrase in Latin literally means the law of prayer (“the way we worship”), and the law of belief (“what we believe”). It is sometimes written as, “lex orandi, lex…

Last week Pope Benedict XVI received the credential letters of six new ambassadors to the Holy See. He sounded a theme which is common in his locutions and writings; he spoke of a “Human Ecology”.  He recalled the “innumerable tragedies that have affected nature, technology, and the peoples” this year. He suggested that “the States…

Several years ago I spoke at a gathering of Catholic Leaders. The participants included men and women from every walk of life who understand the implications of their faith on social, cultural, political, and economic participation. They are trying to live what Pope Benedict calls a “moral coherence” and have rejected the “separation between faith…

I just returned from what would have been a wonderful, hard, exhilarating and uplifting workout at the gym- but for “Weiner-Gate”. Most people reading this piece know what I am referring to. The sad series of events which continues to propel Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York onto every television screen in America – and…

This year the Liturgical celebration of Pentecost occurs on Sunday June 12. Among the many biblical accounts we will hear at Mass is this one: “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it…

The Ascension of the Lord is not some final act in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, in the theatrical sense, though it does complete, in one way, His earthly ministry and the “Paschal Mystery”. Nor is it some kind of “intermission” to be concluded upon Christ’s Bodily return – which will most certainly occur.…

As I grow older things are becoming simpler. Left behind with the years was some of my propensity to complicate things. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have a long way to go. Having been with those preparing for death in my work as a Deacon of the Catholic Church, I have discovered that, in…

On Monday May 15, 2011, scientist/cosmologist/physicist Stephen Hawking gave an interview to Ian Sample, the science correspondent for the Guardian Newspaper of the United Kingdom. It was entitled Stephen Hawking: ‘There is no heaven; it’s a fairy story’. There was nothing new contained in Hawkings’ answers to the questions posed by Sample. That is why I…

Deacon Keith Fournier
about

Keith Fournier

Deacon Keith Fournier is the Editor in Chief at Catholic Online, one of the largest integrated Catholic Media Networks on the World Wide Web. He is a widely recognized voice in the Catholic and broader Christian community. He is a member of the Clergy of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. In his fifteenth year of service as an ordained Catholic Deacon, he is currently assigned to St Stephen Martyr Parish in Chesapeake, Virginia. He is also authorized to serve the Liturgy of the Greek Byzantine Melkite Catholic Church. Deacon Fournier and his wife Laurine have been married for 34 years and have five grown children and six grandchildren.
Deacon Fournier holds his Bachelors degree in theology and philosophy from the Franciscan University of Steubenville (BA), his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Theology from the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University (MTS), his Juris Doctor Law Degree Law (JD) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is a PhD candidate in Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America where he is currently writing his Doctoral Dissertation. Deacon Fournier also holds two honorary Doctorates, a Doctor of Laws (L.L.D. 1994,Honoris Causa) from St. Thomas University - Given for pro-life legal contributions, and a Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.D. 2005, Honoris Causa ) from the National Clergy Council and the Methodist Episcopal Church for his contributions to authentic ecumenical efforts toward Christian unity.
Attorney Fournier is a constitutional lawyer who appeared as co-counsel in cases before the United States Supreme Court on Pro-Life, Religious Freedom and Pro-family issues. He served as the first Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice for seven years. He then served as a public policy activist for the causes of life, marriage and family issues for a number of years. He has extensive experience in nonprofit and for profit leadership. He has taught at the College level and served in Academic administration. He was a Dean of Students and the Dean of Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio.
Deacon Fournier is, above all, a communicator. His faith informs his passion to share the fullness of life which he has found in the heart of the Catholic Church. He has written eight books on matters of faith, family and the Christian life and is widely published in the broader Christian community on matters of life, faith, family, and cultural and social issues. He hosted two daily national radio programs, Purpose for Living, and Millennial Moment. He hosted several television series on Christian family and contemporary faith issues on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network). He is actively involved in preaching and teaching in the Catholic Church and the broader Christian community.
In addition to serving as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Online, Deacon Fournier is the John Paul II Fellow and special counsel for the National Pro-Life Center in Washington, D.C. and is the president of Third Millennium, LLC, a communications and consulting company. He views his role on Beliefnet as an opportunity to share his Catholic Christian faith in what he calls a new areopagus. The areopagus is referred to in the 17th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the Christian New Testament. Also called Mars Hill it was there where the Apostle Paul shared the Christian faith with the early Greeks in their temple.

read full bio
More from Beliefnet and our partners
Close Ad