Michael Coren
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Michael Coren (born 1957 in Essex, Britain) is a popular Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He is the host of the television series The Michael Coren Show and of a separate talk show on CFRB radio, both broadcast weekday evenings.
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Career in Canadian media
Coren moved from Britain to Canada in 1987, and found success as a personality across several media. For several years, he was a weekly columnist for Frank Magazine and then The Globe and Mail, which was, at the time, Canada's only national newspaper, before he began syndicated columns for the Financial Post and Sun Media in 1995.
He was also a prominent broadcaster, hosting a political debate series on TVOntario with Irshad Manji. In 1995, he began an evening talk show on CFRB radio. In 1999, Coren moved to Talk 640 for an unsuccessful stint as its morning man. He later returned to CFRB, where he currently broadcasts from 6:30 to 8:00 PM weekday nights, and regularly fills in for other hosts.
On television, Coren hosts The Michael Coren Show weeknights on Crossroads Television Services, and is regularly published in the Toronto Sun, The Presbyterian Record, The Christian Herald and the Western Standard. He is also a prominent public speaker, especially at churches and religious groups in Canada.
Polical controversies
Never shying away from controversy, his debates are often lively and his articles politically charged. His most controversial opinions involve issues surrounding the role of Judeo-Christian ideals in Canadian political life. He has drawn heavy criticism from homosexual lobby groups for his staunch opposition to same-sex marriage. One article on the topic, published July 3, 2003, led to an email being circulated through the EGALE email list which called for harassment at Coren's home. He also drew harsh criticism from Pagan groups for an August 2, 2003 article in which he mocked the decision to allow tax-funded Wiccan chaplains to work in Canadian prisons. He is also pro-life.
Coren has a reputation as a social conservative, but he remains somewhat hard to label politically owing to his occasional socialist leanings, especially regarding wealth distribution and poverty. He is openly critical of the party system.
Written works
Coren is the author of several books including works of social criticism and biographies of famous writers. His biographies include the lives of G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and C.S. Lewis.
Sprituality
His articles and speeches often include stories of his own personal spiritual journey. Coren is half Jewish through his father. Originally an adherent of the Church of England, he converted to Roman Catholicism after a conversion experience as an adult. He subsequently became an evangelical Protestant but has recently returned to Catholicism. He cites Dr. Terry Winter as a spiritual influence.
External links
- Official site (http://www.michaelcoren.com/)
- CFRB website (http://www.cfrb.com)