La Grange Park, IL
I grew up in So. Milwaukee, WI. My political awareness began with the Felician Sisters who taught me right from wrong in grade school in the sixties. I attended a high school sem for a few years. The Trinity Missionaries had us boycotting lettuce and marching for the UFW. They were great teachers of the union between spiritual life and social awareness.

My instincts have always been liberal, but I have often been disappointed with the shallowness of the American left. Most of my liberal friends think I'm conservative. I think that the prophetic voice of the Church doesn't fit easily into labels.

My BA is in Comparative Studies in Religion, which qualifies me to run a jackhammer, pour concrete, and rake asphalt. I'm a union paving laborer/foreman.

We have three kids, one college graduate, one college student, and an eighth grader. Last year we celebrated 25 years of Marriage.

I'm a catechist, a lector, a choir member, a bingo caller, a soccer coach, and a former chair of our parish's Social Action Ministry. I guess I'm about as suburban Catholic as you can get.

During the 2004 election campaign, when some bishops started threatening the Eucharistic life of people who vote for pro-choice candidates, I began to think more about the relationship between faith in politics in this country. We need to take a fresh look in light of the Magisterium. Maybe we can break the left/right logjam. I pray that we can listen to God's word and speak prophetically.