About Us
FORGE is an organization which fights for the family. With a strategic emphasis on men, FORGE champions the flourishing of the family and evangelizes by virtue of that flourishing. But FORGE does not fight alone. Seeking to bring a diverse and well-rounded set of minds to bear on difficult problems, FORGE works with a team of collaborators, partners, and consultants, a sampling of whom are listed below.
Just as marriage and children are lifelong commitments – our perpetual commitment is to help you build a family that thrives! Through education, research, and grassroots experiences, we are creating a global community of healthy fathers, strong families, and empowered evangelizers. Collectively, this group will revitalize the family, transform the culture, and rebuild the Church.
Regardless of your place on life’s journey, FORGE is committed to meeting you where you’re at … then taking you further than you thought possible. FORGE exists to build men, marriages, and families that are fully alive! By showing the radiance of fathers and families, we illuminate the radiance of He who is life itself: Jesus Christ.
Our Guiding Pillars
Light in Darkness
Guided by scripture and in imitation of Jesus Christ, flourishing Christian families are agents for evangelization both through their witness and through authentic friendship.
Natural Law
Though accessible to all people of good will, the intact natural law is the Church’s gift to the world. Its protection is critical for family flourishing.
Primacy of the Family
Stable marriages and families are both the bedrock and the pinnacle of civil society. Family flourishing is of paramount importance for global flourishing.
Sexual Complementarity
Humanity is intentionally and immutably male and female. The flourishing of the family requires the flourishing of individuals in accord with their sexual difference.
Human Dignity
Every person, from conception to death, possesses inherent dignity and immeasurable worth —including preborn children, elderly individuals, and other marginalized members of society.
Right of the Child
Children are a cherished and undeserved gift. As the privileged place for childhood development, children have a right to the marriage of their parents.
Board of Directors
Justin Doyle
Justin Doyle lives in Des Moines, IA with his wife and their 8 children. He has founded and built a variety of businesses across several industries, but primarily in real estate in his role as CEO of Blackbird Investments. As a highly regarded champion for faith, family, and evangelization; Justin has served on the boards for several national and/or Des Moines based non-profits including the Augustine Institute, FOCUS, and Innervisions Healthcare.
Louis Brown, J.D.
Louis Brown, J.D. received an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. He worked as a private practice attorney for a private law firm, where he practiced labor law and commercial litigation. He later served as an Associate Director, Social Concerns, for a state Catholic Conference, advocating for the vulnerable at the state legislature on issues such as health care, immigration, housing non-discrimination, and the social safety net. In 2017, he received a political appointment and joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. where he served until 2019. Louis has now returned to the Christ Medicus Foundation and serves as its Executive Director.
Pete Burak
Pete Burak is the Vice-President of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization around the world. He is a 2010 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, and has a Master’s Degree in Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization, and he is the co-director of Pine Hills Boys Camp. He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine, and the host of the Spirit-Filled Leadership and The Hour podcasts. Pete and his wife Cait have 5 children.
Rick Rinehart, M.D.
Rick Rinehart, M.D. has been a head and neck surgeon for over 25 years. During his career he has been actively involved in leadership, teaching, and mentoring. He has held both private practice and university level academic positions. From an early age, his father cultivated within him a curiosity for science, a strong work ethic, and a love of family. Rick has held numerous board and leadership positions. He has become passionate about men’s formation and leadership, especially related to the family. Rick lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife. He has 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
Ryan Mauldin
Ryan Mauldin is a marketing strategist who has built multiple seven-figure digital marketing companies. His work spans public interest projects including pro-life and pro-family initiatives on both a local and national scale. Past projects include the acquisition ofmillions of social followers and emails for clients, driving millions of online sessions for publications, and building both state and national entities’ marketing platforms. As a Catholic convert, Ryan cares deeply about building communities that support a robust and humane expression of the faith. He lives in Austin, TX with his wife.
Board of Advisors
Antoine Kazzi
Antoine Kazzi, J.D. serves as VP of Legal and Europe, & Senior Advisor to the CEO, at FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). In his early career in Australia, he focused on family law, working in research, as a judicial clerk, and in private practice. Antoine then served as Private Secretary to the Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney, before moving to the US in 2016 to work for FOCUS. He holds degrees in commerce and law from the University of Sydney.
Bishop William Joensen, Ph.D.
The Most Rev. William M. Joensen, Ph.D. was ordained and installed in 2019 as bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines. Born in 1960, Bishop Joensen completed studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Ohio and was ordained a priest in 1989. He earned a doctorate in philosophy at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 2001. He has served in parishes, as spiritual director at St. Pius X Seminary in Dubuque and in a variety of roles at Loras College in Dubuque. Bishop Joensen is an enthusiastic supporter of FORGE.
Brian Preisler
Brian Preisler currently leads the data analytics, qualitative research, and lean innovation team at the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). He hails from the great state of Wisconsin and graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with degrees in History and International Studies. After serving as a missionary on multiple campuses and while working as a quantitative analyst within the Quality, Growth, and Innovation department for FOCUS, Brian received a graduate certificate in Applied Statistics from Penn State. Brian and his wife are blessed to raise five children to become holy, contributing, and flourishing members of this world.
John Grabowski, Ph.D.
John Grabowski, Ph.D. has taught moral theology on the faculty of the Catholic University of America since 1991. He has served multiple terms as a theological advisor for the U.S.C.C.B., as an expert at the 2015 Synod on Family, and on the Pontifical Council for the family from 2009-2015 with his wife Claire. He has written or coauthored seven books and many scholarly and popular articles in the areas of moral theology, marriage, sexuality, theological anthropology, and bioethics. He and his wife have done marriage ministry together (for both pre and post Cana married couples) for many years. They have 5 children and 11 grandchildren and live in the Archdiocese of Washington.
Joseph Atkinson, Ph.D.
Joseph Atkinson is among the world’s foremost theological authorities on the domestic Church. He also specializes in the biblical understanding of masculinity and fatherhood. He currently serves on faculty at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and previously served as Executive Director at the Catholic Biblical Association. Joseph has written extensively on topics related to fatherhood, the family, and marriage. He is a major contributor to FORGE curriculum and founding fellow. Joseph and his wife Nancy live in Virginia. They have six children and eight grandchildren.
Contributing Experts
Below is a sampling of the minds contributing to FORGE's several curriculum.
Damon Owens
In 2018, Pope Francis honored Damon Owens with the papal Benemerenti Medal for his service to the Church in support of marriage and family. Damon and his wife Melanie keep a full international speaking schedule. They have 8 children and a growing tribe of grandchildren. Together they have founded and lead “Joyful Ever After,” an organization which helps couples get the marriage that they want from the marriage they have (joyfuleverafter.org). Damon serves at the host for FORGE’s “Patriarchs” series, providing commentary and insightful insight along the way.
Irene Pruitt, LPC
Irene Pruitt is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Supervisor in Virginia. She has over twelve years of experience in providing counseling in a variety of settings. She holds a Bachelors in Science from Georgetown University, and a Masters of Science from Virginia Tech, where she studied Marriage and Family Therapy. A practicing Catholic, one of her interests is integrating faith and counseling. FORGE is grateful for Dr. Breuninger’s contributions to our “Fathers and Sons” curriculum.
J.P. De Gance
J.P. De Gance is the founder and president of Communio and the co-author of the book, Endgame: The Church’s Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America. JP is also the author of the Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships. A husband and father, JP lives in Virginia with his wife and eight children. FORGE is grateful to J.P. for his insights on many curriculum including interview contributions to several recent series.
John Bishop, Ph.D.
Starting his career at FOCUS where he led and scaled many initiatives. John earned his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of American where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on masculine virtue. Convicted that the fight of our times is the fight for the family, John founded in FORGE in October 2023. He now serves as Executive Director. John and his wife Katelyn live with their children in Des Moines, Iowa.
John Grabowski, Ph.D.
John Grabowski, Ph.D. has taught moral theology on the faculty of the Catholic University of America since 1991. He has served multiple terms as a theological advisor for the U.S.C.C.B., as an expert at the 2015 Synod on Family, and on the Pontifical Council for the family from 2009-2015 with his wife Claire. He has written or coauthored eight books and many scholarly and popular articles in the areas of moral theology, marriage, sexuality, theological anthropology, and bioethics. John serves on FORGE’s board of advisors and contributes to FORGE curriculum. He and Claire have 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Joseph Atkinson, Ph.D.
Joseph Atkinson is among the world’s foremost theological authorities on the domestic Church. He also specializes in the biblical understanding of masculinity and fatherhood. He currently serves on faculty at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and previously served as Executive Director at the Catholic Biblical Association. Joseph has written extensively on topics related to fatherhood, the family, and marriage. He is a major contributor to FORGE curriculum and founding fellow. Joseph and his wife Nancy live in Virginia. They have six children and eight grandchildren.
Kim Zember
Kim Zember is a sought-after speaker and evangelist, speaking internationally about the love and freedom she has found in her life in Jesus Christ. Her memoir, Restless Heart: My Struggle with Life and Sexuality, is a must-read for anyone interested in Church teaching on chastity. When Kim is not at her home in Texas, she is most often found in her ‘home away from home’, Ethiopia, surrounded by her 280+ children. FORGE is grateful to Kim for her recent interview contributions to Home Church and Patriarchs.
Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D.
Leonard Sax’s unique experience as both a medical doctor and licensed psychologist make him a sought-after speaker and author on issues related to parenting, masculinity, and femininity. He has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, National Public Radio, PBS, Fox News, the BBC, and dozens of other news outlets. His most popular books include Why Gender Matters (2005, 2017), Boys Adrift (2007, 2016), Girls on the Edge (2010, 2020), and NYT Bestseller The Collapse of Parenting 2015). Sax made interview contributions and gave helpful commentary for several of FORGE’s recent series.
Mary Eberstadt
An essayist, novelist, and frequent public speaker, Mary Eberstadt has authored several influential books, including How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization; Primal Screams; and Adam and Eve after the Pill, Revisited. FORGE is grateful to Mary for her helpful commentary and interview contributions to Home Church and Patriarchs.
Matthew Breuninger, Ph.D.
Dr. Matt Breuninger is a gifted teacher, speaker, and author. In addition to his position as associate professor of psychology at Steubenville University in Ohio, Matt has a clinical practice focusing on anxiety, depression, and trauma. He is the author of Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts. FORGE is grateful for Dr. Breuninger’s contributions to our “Fathers and Sons” curriculum.
Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan resides in Rockville, MD with his wife, Angela, and their eleven children. He is the Head of the Upper School at The Heights School, an independent day school for boys in 3rd to 12th grade. In his free time, Michael enjoys family excursions, reading stories with his children, hiking, and camping. He has authored three books on parenting available through Scepter publishers. He played a substantial role in developing and is featured in the first FORGE online course, “Fathers and Sons: Conversations on Sex Ed, Marriage, and Masculinity.”
Monsignor Charles Pope
Father Pope is a priest and pastor in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and in his spare time is involved with Catholic media and lectures across America. He is a gifted speaker, spiritual director, and exorcist. FORGE is grateful to Father Pope for his recent collaboration and interview for the recent Patriarchs and Home Church series.
Pat Fagan, Ph.D.
Pat started out as a clinical therapist specializing in child, family, and marital issues. During his career he has been Executive Director of the Free Congress Foundation, a Deputy Assistant Secretary at HHS, the Senior Fellow on Family and Culture at the Heritage Foundation, then as founder and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute (MARRI). Pat is the Founding Content Fellow at FORGE, and primary author of FORGE’s first course, “Fathers and Sons.” Pat and his wife Theresa live in Virginia. They have eight children and eighteen grandchildren.
Paul J. Kim
Paul J. Kim is one of the most sought-after Catholic youth & young adult speakers in America. He’s the author of the best-selling A Catholic Guide To Adulting Online Course, and the founder of the Triumph Men’s Conference. His background includes a BA in Philosophy (Franciscan University of Steubenville), an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy (Hope International University). Paul’s background as a men’s speaker, father of six, and therapist made him a perfect contributor to FORGE’s recent series, Home Church.
Pete Burak
Pete Burak is the Vice-President of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization around the world. He is a 2010 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, and has a Master’s Degree in Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization, and he is the co-director of Pine Hills Boys Camp. He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine, and the host of the Spirit-Filled Leadership and The Hour podcasts. Pete and his wife Cait have 5 children.