---

(Editor's note: Ms. Hladik is a student at Union College in Schenectady and an editor for the college newpaper.) Counterculture is the new culture. The new tradition is to be non-traditional.

Coming from a small Catholic high school, it was easy to recognize when I first stepped onto my college campus that being a practicing Christian in college is the anomaly rather than the rule.

However, I soon found a small pocket of like-minded people in Union College's Catholic Student Association. As a freshman, I wanted to broaden my horizons. I became an editor on my school's newspaper, the Concordiensis.

The incongruity between two of my chosen clubs was immediately inherent. Journalism is perceived as invariably liberal and religion as a bastion of conservatism. I toe the dissonant line between the two -- at least, that is the common conception held by my peers. However, I have different ideas.

My own viewpoint was affirmed when I attended a talk delivered Sept. 25 at my college by Paul Baumann, editor of the Catholic magazine Commonweal since 2003. His topic was, "Opinion Journalism: A Catholic Perspective." The talk was co-sponsored by Commonweal and Union's Catholic Student Association.

At the outset, Baumann introduced the idea that liberal media and religion can not only coexist harmoniously, but also feed off of one another in a mutually beneficial way. Perhaps, he opined, media can teach the Church the importance of transparency in its hierarchical operations.

At the same time, the Church's traditional values and principles should be implemented beyond the boundaries of churches' doors. Surrounded by the media circus of this year's presidential election, these words especially rang true, further affirming my view that religious values should be utilized and not discounted in secular situations.

The magazine editor illustrated his ideas by dispelling many of the misconceptions people have about religion. Early on in my college career, it became apparent that college students who practice their faith are often stigmatized. There are preconceived notions that anyone who is religious is judgmental and close-minded.

Ironically, because we are assumed to be judgmental, we are judged. Baumann articulated his argument to the contrary well, pointing out that, in fact, the truly religious are the least likely to pass judgment. After all, we come from a forgiving faith born from Jesus, who consorted with sinners of all kinds.

As Catholics, we are taught to take a hard look at ourselves before we can see the flaws in others. Furthermore, Baumann pointed out that such introspective reflection keeps us from being blind followers by leading us to question our faith, combating religious complacency and fostering the ability to look at both sides of an issue.

These aspects of Baumann's argument offered comfort and helped diminish any self-doubt I felt regarding faith.

It is the essence of faith and the morals that religion offers that provide a stable foundation upon which I will always be able to stand. Such stability has increasingly become precious to me, because we live in times concerned with transience -- seemingly, just for the sake of appearing progressive.

Listening to Baumann's talk affirmed my belief that religion is actually a vessel for more open-mindedness. Through the social hierarchy of school and in working as a student journalist, I have learned that perception is important. We should not let ourselves become biased by preconceived notions.

This concept has been heightened by my experience in attending a liberal arts college where diverse interests are encouraged. Biases can obstruct learning by closing us off from the ability to see both sides of an issue.

Overall, Paul Baumann's talk strengthened my resolve to carry religiously-informed thinking and values into all of my endeavors -- both inside and outside of the classroom.[[In-content Ad]]

---