2023: Cathy Cornell and Paul Knitter

Cathy and Paul have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of two children (John Bigane, married to Angela Inzano, and Moira Knitter, married to Jenifer Tsocaris). They are also the happy grandparents of two grandchildren (Theodora Tsocaris and Elio Bigane Inzano). 

Cathy Cornell is a licensed clinical social worker, recently retired clinical director of the Oasis Program at the Canopy Center in Madison, WI, a program that provides treatment and support services to children who have been sexually abused and to their families. She has a Master of Arts in Humanities from Xavier University (1995) and a Master’s in social work from Ohio State University (1998). Her social work service has been primarily in community mental health, particularly with victims of family violence and sexual abuse.

She is married to Paul Knitter, the proud mother of two children (John, married to Angela Inzano, and Moira, married to Jenifer Tsocaris) and grandmother of two grandchildren (Theodora Tsocaris and Elio Bigane Inzano).

During the early 1980s, Cathy accompanied Salvadoran refugees who fled to Cincinnati and worked to reform immigration and foreign policy as Coordinator of the Sanctuary Movement in Cincinnati, OH, from 1985-87. Cathy and Paul first traveled to El Salvador in 1985 and led their first CRISPAZ delegation in 1986. Cathy has worked with CRISPAZ, Christians for Peace in El Salvador, as a Board member from 1987-2021 (and is currently an emeritus board member). She served twice as Chair of the CRISPAZ Board.

A longtime Buddhist practitioner, she seeks to integrate contemplative practice into her social activism and into her work with others, especially those who have suffered from traumatic experiences. As a meditation teacher, she teaches innate compassion practices to caregivers, social service providers, and social activists to help them prevent compassion fatigue. She served on the Foundation for Active Compassion Board from 2015-2022.

Paul Knitter is the Emeritus Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture at Union Theological Seminary, New York. He is also an Emeritus Professor of Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. He received a Licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1966) and a doctorate from the University of Marburg, Germany (1972). Most of his research and publications have dealt with religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue. This is the topic of: One Earth Many Religions: Multifaith Dialogue and Global Responsibility (1995). In 2002, he published a critical survey of Christian approaches to other religions: Introducing Theologies of Religions (2002). Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian, came out in Oct. 2009.

He is married to Cathy Cornell, the proud father of two children (John, married to Angela Inzano, and Moira, married to Jenifer Tsocaris) and grandfather of two grandchildren (Theodora Tsocaris and Elio Bigane Inzano).

From 1987-2021, Knitter served various terms on the Board of Directors for CRISPAZ. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the International, Interreligious Peace Council (formed after the 1993 World Parliament of Religions, to promote interreligious peace-making projects), for Interfaith America (formerly Interfaith Youth Corps), and for The Omnia Institute for Contextual Leadership. He is presently on the pastoral team (preaching and presiding at liturgies) at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, WI.