The Family Room (The Quest)
Join co-hosts Mari Cleveland from St. Jude the Apostle and John Gordon and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel as they speak with authors, theologians, and local priests and lay leaders to provide your family encouragement, resources, and hope. Enjoy heartfelt stories and engaging conversations with Catholics who are excited to share their life experiences and acquired wisdom to help your family continue to live out your faith with joy.
May 7, 2025
Radical Feminist Becomes Radical Catholic
Lorraine Murray, author and columnist
Lorraine Murray, a regular columnist for the Atlanta archdiocesan newspaper, The Georgia Bulletin, shares her incredible faith journey. Born into a nominally Catholic family, Lorraine would describe herself as a “cafeteria” Catholic, picking and choosing what to believe. During college she fully embraced the feminist movement and rejected God.
Eventually attaining a doctorate in philosophy, with an emphasis on feminism, Lorraine became a college professor where she tried to persuade students that God didn’t exist. Her story of how God pursued her in spite of herself will capture your imagination and give hope to anyone who has lost loved ones to the culture wars. Now an award-winning author and freelance writer, Lorraine’s book, Confessions of an Ex-Feminist, details her conversion story.
Biography: Lorraine Grace Viscardi Murray is an American author, columnist, and freelance writer living in Decatur, Georgia. She is the widow of Tolkien artist Jef Murray, who died in 2015. Ms. Murray was born in Yonkers, New York, and grew up in Miami. She received her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Florida. She won the first place Catholic Press Association award for "Best regular column - family life" in 2014 and won the second place Catholic Press Association award for "Best regular column – general commentary" in 2006. She writes columns for publications such as The Georgia Bulletin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and National Catholic Register.
Resources:
Lorraine Murray, a regular columnist for the Atlanta archdiocesan newspaper, The Georgia Bulletin, shares her incredible faith journey. Born into a nominally Catholic family, Lorraine would describe herself as a “cafeteria” Catholic, picking and choosing what to believe. During college she fully embraced the feminist movement and rejected God.
Eventually attaining a doctorate in philosophy, with an emphasis on feminism, Lorraine became a college professor where she tried to persuade students that God didn’t exist. Her story of how God pursued her in spite of herself will capture your imagination and give hope to anyone who has lost loved ones to the culture wars. Now an award-winning author and freelance writer, Lorraine’s book, Confessions of an Ex-Feminist, details her conversion story.
Biography: Lorraine Grace Viscardi Murray is an American author, columnist, and freelance writer living in Decatur, Georgia. She is the widow of Tolkien artist Jef Murray, who died in 2015. Ms. Murray was born in Yonkers, New York, and grew up in Miami. She received her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Florida. She won the first place Catholic Press Association award for "Best regular column - family life" in 2014 and won the second place Catholic Press Association award for "Best regular column – general commentary" in 2006. She writes columns for publications such as The Georgia Bulletin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and National Catholic Register.
Resources:
- Confessions of an Ex-Feminist
- Lorraine's book, The Abbess of Andalusia, chronicles the spiritual journey of author Flannery O’Connor
- Lorraine's popular trilogy of mystery novels set in a fictitious Catholic church near her home show off her comedic side
- Lorraine's columns in The Georgia Bulletin
- Grief Share website offering healing from grief
- Holy Family Counseling Center - individual, couples, and family therapy from a Catholic-Christian counseling perspective
