Kimberly Hahn
Encyclopedia
Kimberly Hahn is a Catholic apologist
and author. She is the eldest child of Jerry and Patricia Kirk, and is married to apologist and author Scott Hahn
.
Kimberly was born into a Presbyterian family; her father was a minister. She studied Communication Arts
at Grove City College
in Pennsylvania
, graduating in 1979. She married fellow student Scott Hahn
on 18 August that year. She then worked as a secretary for a year while Scott began studies for a Master of Divinity
degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
. She enrolled the following year, and earned a Master of Arts
in Theology
in 1982.
While studying for her M.A., Kimberly carried out research into the history of Christian attitudes towards contraception
. She discovered that every Christian Church without exception had condemned the practice until 1930, and that some of the most famous Protestant reformers — Luther
, Calvin
, Zwingli, and Knox
— had condemned it strongly. She also read Catholic author John Kippley, who likened contraception to the practice of feasting and deliberately vomiting. At that stage, Scott and Kimberly both had strong objections to many Catholic teachings, but, after prayer, Bible study, and reflection, they both became convinced that on that issue, at least, the Catholic position was biblical. They changed to Natural Family Planning
for a while, then decided to leave the timing of pregnancies entirely to God. Their first son was born on December 4, 1982.
Scott Hahn was received into the Catholic Church at Easter 1986. His conversion caused a great deal of distress to Kimberly, as described in their book Rome Sweet Home. However, after struggling for a few more years with issues such as transubstantiation
and in particular the veneration
of Mary, she was herself received into the Catholic Church at Easter 1990. She is now a well-known Catholic apologist, a homeschooling
mother of six children, and author of three books. She gives talks about Catholicism, feminism
, and contraception, both nationally and internationally.
Audio cassettes:
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
and author. She is the eldest child of Jerry and Patricia Kirk, and is married to apologist and author Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn is a contemporary author, theologian, and Catholic apologist. His works include Rome Sweet Home and The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. He currently teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Catholic university in the United States.-Education:Hahn received his...
.
Kimberly was born into a Presbyterian family; her father was a minister. She studied Communication Arts
Communication Arts
Communication Arts is the largest international trade journal of visual communications. Founded in 1959 by Richard Coyne and Robert Blanchard, the magazine’s coverage includes graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration and interactive media. The magazine continues to be edited and...
at Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, graduating in 1979. She married fellow student Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn is a contemporary author, theologian, and Catholic apologist. His works include Rome Sweet Home and The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. He currently teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Catholic university in the United States.-Education:Hahn received his...
on 18 August that year. She then worked as a secretary for a year while Scott began studies for a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary whose main campus is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger...
. She enrolled the following year, and earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in 1982.
While studying for her M.A., Kimberly carried out research into the history of Christian attitudes towards contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
. She discovered that every Christian Church without exception had condemned the practice until 1930, and that some of the most famous Protestant reformers — Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
, Zwingli, and Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
— had condemned it strongly. She also read Catholic author John Kippley, who likened contraception to the practice of feasting and deliberately vomiting. At that stage, Scott and Kimberly both had strong objections to many Catholic teachings, but, after prayer, Bible study, and reflection, they both became convinced that on that issue, at least, the Catholic position was biblical. They changed to Natural Family Planning
Natural family planning
Natural family planning is a term referring to the family planning methods approved by the Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the Church's requirements for sexual behavior in keeping with its philosophy of the dignity of the human person, NFP excludes the use of other methods of birth...
for a while, then decided to leave the timing of pregnancies entirely to God. Their first son was born on December 4, 1982.
Scott Hahn was received into the Catholic Church at Easter 1986. His conversion caused a great deal of distress to Kimberly, as described in their book Rome Sweet Home. However, after struggling for a few more years with issues such as transubstantiation
Transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation means the change, in the Eucharist, of the substance of wheat bread and grape wine into the substance of the Body and Blood, respectively, of Jesus, while all that is accessible to the senses remains as before.The Eastern Orthodox...
and in particular the veneration
Veneration
Veneration , or veneration of saints, is a special act of honoring a saint: an angel, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion. It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches...
of Mary, she was herself received into the Catholic Church at Easter 1990. She is now a well-known Catholic apologist, a homeschooling
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
mother of six children, and author of three books. She gives talks about Catholicism, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, and contraception, both nationally and internationally.
Books
- Rome Sweet Home (co-written with Scott Hahn), Ignatius Press, 1993. ISBN 0-89870-478-2
- Catholic Education Homeward Bound (co-written with Mary Hasson), Ignatius Press, 1996. ISBN 0-89870-566-5
- Life-Giving Love (co-written with Scott Hahn), Charis Books, 2001. ISBN 1-56955-292-4
- Genesis to Jesus (co-written with Michael Barber), Servant Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0-86716-837-2
- Chosen and Cherished: Biblical Wisdom for Your Marriage, Servant Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0-86716-848-8
Audio cassettes:
- Knowing the Will of God (Whispers of the Soul), 1997. ISBN 1-57058-155-X
- Catholic Marriage Covenant (with Scott Hahn, 1997). ISBN 1-57058-076-6
- Life-Giving Love (with Scott Hahn, 1997). ISBN 1-57058-019-7
- Secrets For Successful Evangelization (with Scott Hahn, 1999). ISBN 1-57058-081-2
- Unser Weg nach Rom (Our Way to Rome) (with Scott Hahn, 2001). ISBN 3-7171-1069-1
- The Venerable Beads (with Scott Hahn, 2002). ISBN 1-57058-391-9
- A Kingdom Divided (with Scott Hahn, 2002). ISBN 1-57058-429-X
- Women of Courage - Women of Hope, Saint Joseph Communications, 2003. ISBN 1-57058-548-2