Michael Hichborn is the founder and president of the Lepanto Institute, a Catholic research and education organization focused on defending the faith by investigating and exposing organizations or programs that undermine Church teachings, particularly in areas like charity funding, abortion, contraception, and sexual morality. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Christendom College (class of 1999) and a Master’s degree in Education from American InterContinental University. In 2017, he became a member of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family. Prior to founding the Lepanto Institute, Hichborn spent nearly eight years (about seven and a half) as Director of the Defend the Faith project at American Life League, where he researched and reported on issues such as grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to organizations promoting abortion, contraception, homosexuality, and Marxism. He also helped establish two Catholic schools in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and served in roles related to Catholic education and development. Hichborn is known for his in-depth investigative reports, including over 30 detailed analyses totaling more than 1,000 pages on Catholic Relief Services’ alleged involvement in promoting condoms, abortifacients, and related programs overseas, as well as reports on Catholic hospital systems performing abortions, sterilizations, and gender-related procedures. He hosts a weekly YouTube program called the Anchor Team, featuring interviews with Catholic figures, and is a prominent voice in pro-life and faithful Catholic circles. Hichborn lives in Virginia (Fredericksburg area) with his wife, Alyssa, and their six children.
