Alerts Sign-up
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has been awarded the 2025 Canterbury Medal by Becket, a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to defending religious liberty. The award was presented during Becket's annual gala on May 22 at The Plaza in Midtown Manhattan.
The Canterbury Medal is recognized as the highest honor for religious liberty and acknowledges individuals who have shown "courage and commitment" in defending religious freedom both in the United States and globally. Cardinal Dolan expressed his gratitude upon receiving the medal, stating, "I hardly deserve this high award. Yet, I readily admit that you are absolutely on spot to claim I am intensely devoted to the protection of our first and most cherished liberty — religious freedom."
Becket is known for its successful legal battles and advocacy efforts in media and education aimed at protecting the free expression of all faiths. During his acceptance speech, Cardinal Dolan emphasized the importance of religious freedom as an inherent right given by God rather than by any government or charter.
The event featured more than 500 attendees and included video presentations highlighting Becket's mission and Cardinal Dolan's contributions to religious liberty. Cardinal Dolan, a former president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2010-2013, continues to serve as a consultant for the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty.
Organizers noted that Cardinal Dolan was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on a newly launched Religious Liberty Commission tasked with producing a report on issues such as pluralism, conscience protections, and school choice. Other Catholic bishops appointed include Bishop Robert E. Barron, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, and Father Thomas Ferguson.
Professor Robert P. George of Princeton University praised Cardinal Dolan's lifetime service to various communities before presenting him with the medal: “He has by precept and by example helped the meaning of the Gospel and promoted its principles and values; central among those principles and values are religious freedom and the rights of conscience.”
Mark Rienzi, president and CEO of Becket, also expressed gratitude for Cardinal Dolan’s dedication to religious freedom causes.
The Canterbury Medal derives its name from historical events involving Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who faced off against King Henry II over issues of church-state relations.
Additionally, at each gala event, Becket presents a Legal Service Award recognizing significant contributions toward advancing religious liberty. This year’s recipient was Davis Polk & Wardwell for their pro bono work addressing antisemitism on college campuses through Frankel v. Regents of the University of California.
This article was originally published by The Good Newsroom from the Archdiocese of New York in partnership with OSV News.
