The former sportscaster is currently developing Ignite TV, “an Internet channel for people of freedom and faith,” said Goddard, calling it a cross between Glenn Beck TV and the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). The web site is still in development.
Goddard was fired after he wrote a tweet in support of traditional marriage. From his personal Twitter account, Goddard tweeted his support for hockey agent Todd Reynolds. Reynolds, via Twitter, had criticized then-New York Rangers forward Sean Avery for his public support of gay marriage.
“My firing from Sportsnet showed me many things, one of which is that I have a love for Christ and His Gospel,” said Goddard, calling the last two years “inspiring” and describing his life as being filled with “unprecedented growth.”
“My firing was the making of me because it proves to Damian Goddard that I’m willing to state the truth, come what may,” he said.
Goddard took his former employer to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, arguing he was fired for his religious beliefs.
“One day, I was in excellent standing with my employer; the next day I made a tweet defending marriage based on my religious faith as a Catholic and they’re saying that my firing has nothing to do with any religious connection,” he said. The claim before the rights commission, however, was dismissed earlier this month, though Goddard says he is looking into an appeal of the ruling.
Since his firing, very little came in the way of employment in his field. He told The Catholic Register earlier this year that his broadcast career is mostly over, but he “still feels like the Lord has given me this gift of being a broadcaster,” so he plans to use the online platform “to be boldly talking about the issues confronting Catholics and Christians in this country.”
Goddard will be posting information about this new endeavour on his existing site, www.Damian-Goddard.com.
“I will continue being a spokesperson for marriage and a spokesperson for people of faith,” he said.
And that’s exactly what he’s branded himself to be, in the past speaking at the Catholic conference Dynamic Women of Faith and appearing in U.S. television ads defending traditional marriage.
In the meantime, he’ll be busy in his home studio, equipped with four high-definition cameras, studio lighting, wireless microphones, etc. He has space to hold a roundtable discussion of six people and plans on airing five shows with weekly and daily live broadcasts.