Michael Coren
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Michael Coren (born January 15, 1959 in Essex, England) is a Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He is the host of the television series The Michael Coren Show. He has also been a long-time radio personality, particularly on CFRB radio.
Career in Canadian media
Coren moved from the UK to Canada in 1987. For several years, he was a columnist for Frank and then The Globe and Mail, before he began syndicated columns for the Financial Post and Sun Media in 1995. Following his departure from Frank, he became a favourite target of that publication, culminating in a spoof ad contest to "deflower" Michael Coren (a nod to Frank's notorious "Deflower Caroline Mulroney" contest, and a satirical jab at Coren's conservative leanings.) Coren had also been a favorite target of Frank back in the days before he began writing for them.
He is also a broadcaster, co-hosting a political debate segment with Irshad Manji on TVOntario's Studio 2. In 1995, he began an evening talk show on CFRB. In 1999, Coren briefly moved to Talk 640 for a short stint as its morning man. He returned to CFRB, where he broadcasted from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. weekday nights, and regularly filled in for other hosts until November 2005. Coren was dismissed by CFRB as a result of complaints arising from comments ridiculing the weight of an apparent guest. In fact, the guest was an actor and the segment was scripted. According to CFRB's Operations Manager, Steve Kowch, "Pat Holiday, our general manager and myself went through the tape of Monday night's show and were shocked....it was totally out of bounds." Coren argues that it was a satire comparing in his mind public attitude to third world starvation with North America's obsession with slimming and self-indulgence.
Despite this acrimonious termination, Coren made regular talk show appearances on CFRB in July 2006, at the start of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, as he happened to be in Israel at the time. After receiving 60% approval from CFRB listeners in an August 2006 poll, Coren returned to the CFRB airwaves in September 2006 with a Sunday Evening show.[1] As of the 22nd of April 2007, the show expanded from its usual 1 hour 7-8pm to 7-9 pm. Coren celebrated by giving away double the prizes usually given out.
On television, Coren hosts The Michael Coren Show weeknights on Crossroads Television Services, and is published every Saturday in the Sun newspaper chain. He is also a columnist for the Western Standard, Catholic Insight and The Women's Post and writes regularly for the National Post, Reader's Digest and several other publications. He is also a public speaker, particularly at religious gatherings.
Political controversies
His most popular opinions involve issues surrounding the role of Judeo-Christian ideals in Canadian political life. He has expressed staunch opposition to same-sex marriage. He once made the comment on his show that "Tom Cruise is not an Oscar Wilde pussy" and he said that the gay community is obsessed with Tom Cruise.
In a debate printed in the Sun newspaper over whether the Anglican Church should bless same-sex unions, Michael Coren likened homosexuality to bestiality and necrophilia [1]. He likened Prime Minister Paul Martin to Hitler for his support of gay 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 some criticism from Pagan groups for an August 2, 2003 article in which he expressed displeasure with the decision to allow tax-funded Wiccan chaplains to work in Canadian prisons.
He is staunchly pro-life and has a reputation as a mainstream social conservative. Unlike many of his conservative counterparts, he was opposed the US Invasion of Iraq [2].
Spirituality
His articles and speeches often include stories of his own personal spiritual journey. Coren's father was Jewish as was his maternal grandfather.
He converted to Evangelical Christianity after a conversion experience as an adult, greatly influenced by Canadian televangelist Terry Winter.
In early 2004, he embraced Catholicism. He cites St. Thomas More, C.S. Lewis, Ronald Knox and his God-father Lord Longford as spiritual influences, but remains connected to the ecumenical scene in Canada and beyond.
Published Books
Coren is the author of eleven 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. His books have been translated into fourteen languages. He is currently writing a book entitled Socon, A Handbook for Moral Conservatives.
References
- ^ The Sunday Evening show began as a 1 hour program from 7 to 8pm but as of April 22 was expanded into a 2 hour show. Coren celebrated the occasion by giving out double the normal amount of prizes usually given on the show. Michael Coren Reinstated on CFRB Radio, by "Popular Demand", LifeSiteNews, September 7, 2006.