The world may be grim, but it’s because, and not in spite of this, that the church and its people have more relevance and significance than ever, writes Michael Coren.J.P. MOCZULSKI/The Globe and Mail

Michael Coren is the author of Diary of a Low-Born Cleric: A Year in the Priesthood.

“Excuse me, may I ask you a question?” says a middle-aged man sitting at the next table in the pub. “Don’t want to be rude but you’re wearing a clerical collar. Didn’t you used to be Michael Coren?”

It’s a good question. Sometimes I’m not entirely sure myself.

My days of hosting television and radio shows ended more than a decade ago. I still write columns and books, but they generally concern Christianity and where the Gospel essence of forgiveness and love meets the body politic. My main work, my vocation, is as an Anglican priest. I was ordained almost seven years ago, and on that terrifying but completing day took an oath “to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.”

Recently, I wrote a book about my life as a priest – an attempt to open a window through which people might see and understand what we do, whatever our denomination and however long we’ve been on this journey. Frankly, we could do with some favourable exposure.

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