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Laura Ingraham is an American conservative television presenter, political commentator, author, and radio host. She is also a convert to the Catholic faith. Ingraham was raised Baptist and attended church until she was 12 years old. During her time at Dartmouth College, she became familiar with the Catholic Church through her friends in a conservative student newspaper. Ingraham has cited her mother's passing in 1999 as a pivotal moment that led her to reflect on her life and seek spiritual guidance. She was influenced by her close friend and godfather, Pat Cipollone, who inspired her conversion to Catholicism. Ingraham's conversion, coupled with her battle with breast cancer in 2005, marked a shift from her secular punditry in the 1990s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Laura Ingraham |
| Date of Birth | June 19, 1963 |
| Religion | Converted to Roman Catholicism in 2003 |
| Previous Religion | Baptist |
| Career | Attorney, Political Commentator, Author, Radio Host, Television Presenter |
| Education | Dartmouth College, University of Virginia |
| Awards and Recognition | The Laura Ingraham Show rated as the No. 5 radio show in America by Talkers Magazine in 2012 |
| Personal Life | Single parent of three adopted children; Godmother to Sofia Cipollone |
| Health | Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, now in remission |
| Political Views | Conservative, supporter of Donald Trump |
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What You'll Learn
Laura Ingraham's religious upbringing
Laura Ingraham, the American conservative television presenter and host of The Ingraham Angle on Fox News Channel, was raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut. She was born on June 19, 1963, to Anne Caroline (née Kozak) and James Frederick Ingraham III. Ingraham grew up attending a Baptist church but stopped around the age of 12.
During her senior year at Dartmouth College, Ingraham was the editor-in-chief of the independent campus newspaper The Dartmouth Review. It was at Dartmouth that Ingraham was first introduced to Catholicism. Many of her friends on The Dartmouth Review were Catholic, and she occasionally attended Mass with them. However, she did not take her faith very seriously at the time.
After her mother passed away in May 1999, Ingraham began to reevaluate her life and started to take her spiritual journey more seriously. She sought guidance from close friends, including Pat Cipollone, a White House counsel and longtime friend who she considers her godfather and spiritual mentor. Ingraham credits Cipollone with inspiring her conversion to Catholicism.
In 2003, Ingraham converted to Catholicism. She has since spoken openly about her faith and its importance in her life. In an interview, she shared her belief that faith and virtue grounded in faith are essential for the country's survival. Ingraham has also expressed frustration with the perception of anti-Catholic bias in the news and entertainment media.
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Ingraham's Catholic conversion in 2003
Laura Ingraham, an American conservative television presenter, author, and political commentator, converted to Catholicism in 2003. Ingraham was born in 1963 and attended a Baptist church until the age of twelve. She studied Spanish and Russian and later earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia in 1991. She began her media career in the mid-1990s and has been a prominent figure in conservative media since.
Ingraham's conversion to Catholicism was influenced by her close friend and "godfather," Pat Cipollone, whom she described as her spiritual mentor. In her 2007 book, "Power to the People," Ingraham credited Cipollone as being instrumental in her adoption of the Catholic faith. She also acknowledged the influence of her Catholic friends at Dartmouth College, where she served as editor-in-chief of the conservative student newspaper, "The Dartmouth Review." Ingraham's mother's passing in 1999 also played a role in her spiritual journey, prompting her to reflect on her life and seek happiness beyond professional success.
Ingraham's conversion marked a shift from her more secular punditry in the 1990s, when she was known for criticizing former President Bill Clinton. Her embrace of Catholicism added a new dimension to her public persona, and she has since spoken openly about her faith and its importance in her life. In an interview with the National Catholic Register, Ingraham discussed her religious upbringing, her conversion, and how her faith has changed her perspective. She also addressed the perception of anti-Catholic bias in the news and entertainment media, expressing her belief in its existence.
Ingraham's Catholic faith has been a recurring theme in her public life. She has referenced her religious beliefs in various contexts, including politics and social issues. In 2016, Ingraham made headlines when a bishop discouraged Catholics from attending an event featuring her due to her controversial statements and ideology. Ingraham defended her right to express her opinions, even when they differed from those of the Catholic Church's official stances.
Ingraham's conversion to Catholicism in 2003 was a significant event in her personal and public life. It influenced her worldview, shaped her public image, and added a new layer to her conservative commentary. As a prominent media personality, her adoption of the Catholic faith and her subsequent expressions of it have contributed to a broader dialogue on religion in the public square.
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Ingraham's Catholic faith and beliefs
Laura Ingraham is an American conservative television presenter, political commentator, author, and radio host. She is also a recent convert to the Catholic faith. Ingraham was born in 1963 and attended a Baptist church until the age of twelve. She studied Spanish and Russian and graduated from Dartmouth College. During her time at Dartmouth, she was the editor-in-chief of the independent campus newspaper, 'The Dartmouth Review', for which she wrote several controversial articles.
Ingraham's journey to the Catholic faith began at Dartmouth College, where many of her friends on the conservative student newspaper were Catholic. She would occasionally attend Mass with them, but her faith was not a serious part of her life at that point. Ingraham has described herself as “wandering" spiritually during this time. It was only after her mother's passing in 1999 that she began to re-evaluate her life and search for deeper meaning and happiness.
Ingraham's conversion to Catholicism was influenced by her close friend and spiritual mentor, Pat Cipollone, who she considers her godfather. In her 2007 book, 'Power to the People', Ingraham credits Cipollone as being instrumental in her conversion. In an interview, Ingraham shared that Cipollone was one of the first people she reached out to when she received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2005.
Ingraham's Catholic faith plays a significant role in her life and work. She has expressed her belief in the importance of faith and virtue grounded in faith for the survival of the nation. Ingraham also holds strong anti-abortion views and has criticised immigration policies that she believes are contrary to Christian values. In 2016, a bishop discouraged Catholics from attending an Ingraham event due to her controversial opinions.
Ingraham has been open about her Catholicism and how it shapes her perspective. She has stated that she prays for the president and does not hate anyone, reflecting her religious beliefs. Ingraham's conversion to Catholicism adds a dimension to her public persona and influences how her audience perceives her commentary and analysis.
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Ingraham's Catholic views on immigration
Laura Ingraham, a conservative television presenter and political commentator, converted to Catholicism in 2003. She was raised in a Baptist church until the age of twelve. Ingraham has stated that she does not worry about being "overzealous in her Catholicism", believing that converts are the lifeblood of the church. She also asserts that faith and virtue grounded in faith are essential for the survival of the nation.
The Catholic Church's official stance on immigration is that countries have a duty to accommodate the natural right of people to migrate when conditions for a dignified life are absent in their homeland. This is known as the "right not to migrate" in Catholic teaching. The Church calls for a comprehensive reform of the immigration system in the United States, emphasising the need to address the root causes of migration, especially in cases of forced migration. Providing legal processes for undocumented immigrants to regularise their status is aligned with Catholic social teaching, as it strengthens the economy, provides community stability, and keeps families together.
The Church also highlights the importance of balancing a country's rights to regulate its borders and enforce immigration laws with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life and respect the dignity of all persons. Enforcement measures should focus on addressing genuine risks and dangers to society, such as gang activity, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. The use of detention, especially for vulnerable populations, should be limited due to its proven harms.
While Ingraham has not explicitly stated her Catholic views on immigration, her criticism of Catholic Charities for facilitating illegal immigration suggests a stance that aligns with the Church's emphasis on following immigration laws. However, her broader views on immigration reform and the role of faith in public life are not directly addressed in the available sources.
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Ingraham's Catholic identity in the public sphere
Laura Ingraham is an American conservative television presenter, political commentator, author, and radio host. She is also a recent convert to the Catholic faith. Ingraham's Catholic identity in the public sphere is notable for its influence on her work and her public statements on religion and faith.
Ingraham was raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and attended a Baptist church until the age of twelve. During her time at Dartmouth College, she became acquainted with Catholicism through her friends on the Dartmouth Review, a conservative student newspaper. Despite occasionally attending Mass, she did not consider herself a devout follower at the time. However, after her mother's passing in 1999, Ingraham began to reevaluate her life and turned to Catholicism for spiritual guidance.
Ingraham's conversion to Catholicism was influenced by her close friendship with White House counsel Pat Cipollone, whom she considers her godfather and spiritual mentor. In her book "Power to the People," Ingraham credits Cipollone as instrumental in her adoption of the Catholic faith. Ingraham's Catholic faith has played a significant role in shaping her public image and her approach to various issues. She has expressed her belief in the importance of faith and virtue, stating that without them, the country cannot thrive.
Ingraham's Catholic identity has also been a topic of discussion in the media and among Catholic communities. In 2016, a bishop discouraged Catholics from attending an Ingraham event, sparking debate among Catholics on Reddit. Ingraham's views on immigration have also been a point of contention, with some questioning whether her stance aligns with Catholic values.
Ingraham has been vocal about her faith in the public sphere, expressing her frustration with the phrase "as a Catholic." She has also discussed her cancer diagnosis and how it influenced her spiritual journey. Ingraham's Catholic faith has been an integral part of her life and has guided her through personal and professional milestones, including her battle with cancer and her role as a single parent to three adopted children.
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Frequently asked questions
Laura Ingraham converted to Catholicism in 2003.
Ingraham attended a Baptist church until the age of twelve.
Ingraham has cited Pat Cipollone, her godfather and spiritual mentor, as an inspiration for her conversion. She also became more familiar with the Church when she attended Dartmouth College.
Laura Ingraham is an American conservative television presenter and political commentator. She has hosted "The Ingraham Angle" on Fox News since 2017 and previously hosted "The Laura Ingraham Show" on radio.
Ingraham worked as a speechwriter in the Reagan administration and was a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia and worked for a law firm in New York City before starting her media career in the mid-1990s.
