Here is a little information about the person mostly at fault for this site, namely me. I do not promise that this information will be in any way exciting or interesting. There is a link to my resume at the beginning, followed by some more personal info on this page.
My name is Thomas Hurley (Tom to friends and family). I am (in case you hadn't already guessed) Catholic. In non-web life, I am also short, quiet, diffident, introspective, sensitive, trustworthy, empathetic and loyal. I will add more adjectives if I think of any more (and if you were waiting for some really negative adjectives, seriously, do you expect me to tell you all my faults on my own web site?).
I graduated with a B.A. in theology from Christendom College, a small Catholic liberal arts college in Virginia. I received a masters degree in theological studies from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, in Washington, DC. After that, I worked for the Catholic section of an exciting new Christian dot-com company, until it followed the example of many other exciting new dot-com companies and laid off a bunch of people, including me. I have also been published in Homiletic and Pastoral Review ("The Importance of the Hierarchy in the Church") and Our Sunday Visitor. I am now in the Ph.D. program in theology at the John Paul II Institute.
My interests, which are the basis for everything on this web site, are pretty varied. Really, at any given time I can take an interest in just about anything. As you might guess from my academic pursuits, one of my primary interests is Catholic theology. Concerning which, since a good bit of my writing on this site relates to theology, I should get the statement of fidelity in now: anything and everything which relates to theology, religion, faith, and morality on this web site is unconditionally subject to the authoritative teachings and judgments of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and if despite my best intentions anything on this web site is contrary in any way to such teachings and judgments, it is to be considered retracted and repudiated by me. Anyway, in terms of theological and philosophical opinions and debates, I am a Thomist. I also am interested in, among other things, philosophy, history, literature, and human nature in general. Among my areas of interest in theology at the moment are various aspects of ecclesiology, areas in the theology of human nature related to interpersonal relationships and the religious nature of the lay vocation, human love as the fulfillment of human freedom and in relation to the ordering to God, and "political" theology (issues of Church and state, society, the common good, religious freedom, and so forth).
I don't exactly have any typical hobbies as such, in the sense of stamp-collecting or something like that, but I suppose hobbies basically are things you do for enjoyment in your free time. In that sense, all the things I list as interests, and particularly theology, are things I study, read about, and write about in my free time. Beyond those areas, I am also an avid reader of pretty much anything, particularly great fiction, particularly novels. I also like to write. I am something of a movie enthusiast. Musically, I tend towards classical, especially Beethoven, and some of the great music written for the liturgy in past centuries, particularly Palestrina. I also listen to pop/rock, but mostly pre-1990 music, particularly Billy Joel and the Beatles. I don't play sports much, but I follow sports and I like e to watch hockey.
I am sure there is a lot more I could say here, but let's face it: other than close personal friends, who really wants to know that much about me? :-) So, thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of my site!