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Crossing FaithsA Christian & a Muslim talk religion & politics Author: John Pinna and Elliot Toman
Crossing Faiths is a podcast where people from diverse religious backgrounds openly discuss everything you're NOT supposed to discuss at the dinner table. Join hosts Jt Pinna, a career national security, international affairs, and D.C. insider, and Elliot Toman, a former media director in the Evangelical church, as they engage in lively conversations about the impact of faith on current events. Crossing Faiths also welcomes guests from various religious and experiential backgrounds to share their insights. The podcast was initially developed in collaboration with Matt Hawkins, a former policy director for the Southern Baptist Convention. Their conversations are built on a decade of collaboration, advocating in Washington, D.C., for religious freedom domestically and globally. The two developed the podcast to share conversations that model friendship and cooperation despite profound differences in religion and background. The podcast has reached almost 3 million multi-faith listeners, 83% millennials. Language: en-us Genres: News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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187: Stephen Schneck, USCIRF Commissioner
Episode 187
Sunday, 23 November, 2025
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Stephen Schneck, a Commissioner for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), about the vital role the independent, bipartisan commission plays in monitoring and advocating for freedom of belief worldwide. Schneck details the distinction between USCIRF’s advisory role and the State Department’s policy implementation, while highlighting his specific focus on the intersection of religious persecution and the global refugee crisis. The conversation delves into Schneck’s background as a political philosopher and practicing Catholic, exploring how the American founders' ideals and the Catholic Church’s modern embrace of inter-religious dialogue inform his approach to human rights. Finally, the two discuss the difficulties of securing tangible victories in the current geopolitical climate and the critical necessity of Congressional reauthorization to ensure the Commission can continue its work amidst rising threats to religious liberty. A political philosopher by training, Stephen Schneck retired from The Catholic University of America in 2018, after more than thirty years as a professor, department chair, and dean. At the university he was also the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies. He received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. A well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life, Schneck currently serves on the governing boards of Catholic Climate Covenant, which advocates for environmental justice and care for creation, and of Catholic Mobilizing Network, a Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and advance restorative justice. His writings appear regularly in the religious media and he is a frequent commentator on Catholic matters for national and international news services. Previously, he was the executive director of Franciscan Action Network, which promotes environmental, economic, racial, and social justice on behalf of the Franciscan communities of the United States. He served the administration of President Barack Obama as a member of the White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Born and raised in Clinton, Iowa, Schneck now lives with his wife, Suzanne, on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.
