From an early age growing up in Nigeria, Bennet Omalu learned that belief in God helps you cope with all kinds of difficulties in life. When he moved to Pittsburgh in the late 1990s and discovered a brain disease that affects athletes, and football players in particular, he relied heavily on his Catholic faith to deal with the controversy and firestorm that erupted.

His story is the subject of the new movie “Concussion,” which was filmed in Pittsburgh last year and was set to open in theaters Dec. 25.

Trained as a forensic pathologist and working in the Allegheny County coroner’s office, Dr. Omalu found the brain disease — chronic traumatic encephalopathy — after doing an autopsy on legendary Steelers center Mike Webster. The Hall of Fame football player died at age 50 after years of bizarre behavior.

Read the article “Faith Helped ‘Concussion’ Doctor Tell the Truth the NFL Didn’t Want to Hear” on pittsburghcatholic.org.