The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty will honor Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York with its Canterbury Medal, recognizing his commitment to protecting religious liberty, at its May 22 gala.
“His Eminence has been a towering figure in the fight for religious liberty, not just for Catholics, but for people of all faiths,” said Mark Rienzi, Becket’s president and CEO. “Cardinal Dolan’s leadership in the public square has shaped the national conscience on religious freedom and strengthened the resolve of those who defend it.”
Cardinal Dolan has served as the archbishop of New York since 2009 and was president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2010 to 2013. He also served as chairman of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty.
Cardinal Dolan thanked Becket for the honor.
“Religious freedom isn’t just about protecting what happens in church on Sundays — it’s about defending the right of every person to live their faith openly, every day of the week,” he said. “It’s a gift from God — not from government — and it must be protected for people of all faiths. I’m grateful to receive the Canterbury Medal as part of this vital mission.”
The Canterbury Medal is named in honor of St. Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury and namesake of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Becket was martyred for resisting King Henry II’s attempts to subordinate the Church to the crown.
The gala hosts religious leaders and religious liberty advocates from around the world. Past medal recipients include the late Nobel Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Cuban poet and former political prisoner Armando Valladares, and the 62nd Chaplain of the U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black.
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