I grew up in a family in which political issues were often discussed and debated intensely.

I have a Christian worldview and so it shapes the way that I view issues. I don't apologize for that and I don't think people of faith ought to shrink away from being in the public arena.

Seven and half years ago I began my own journey. For me and my family it was a time of adversity. But during that adversity I derived a deeper faith. And born out of that adversity was a commitment to devote myself to those people and to those issues that truly matter to me.

My mother's family were full-on Irish Catholics - faith in an elaborate old fashioned highly conservative and madly baroque style. I sort of fell out of the tribe over women's rights and social justice issues when I was just 13 years old.

The media seems to think only abortion and gay marriage are religious issues. Poverty is a moral issue it's a faith issue it's a religious issue.

I'd like to see much more understanding of emotional issues around hurt abandonment disappointment longing failure and shame where they stem from and how they drive people and policies brought into public discourse.

I've never had issues with popularity. I was always a popular guy... I've always had friends and loved ones and everything so it wasn't like 'Oh man I gotta fill some void that was left by high school.' I had a great high-school experience.

From this experience we have learned that in a big party it is important to have the necessary and often controversial discussions on policy issues such as the health system while in opposition.

I raised five children. They all have different personalities. All of them have different issues different levels of success. That was a learning experience for me.

That's not to say that women's priorities are better than men's. Rather when women are empowered when they can speak from the experience of their own lives they often address different previously neglected issues. And families and whole communities benefit.