Cardinal Timothy Dolan to be Honored with Religious Freedom Medal

Articles | May 15, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics

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The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty will honor the New York prelate on May 22nd.

By Catholics for Catholics

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, considered as one of the towering figures of the Catholic church in America, will be awarded a prestigious medal for his long fight for religious freedom, according to the Christian Post.

Announcing in a statement made on Wednesday, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said that it will honor Cardinal Dolan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York with the Canterbury Medal.

Dolan, who serves on President Donald Trump’s new Religious Freedom Commission, will be honored with the award at the 2025 Canterbury Medal Gala in New York City on May 22, the Christian Post reported. The medal, according to a statement by the Becket Fund, is awarded to “an individual who has demonstrated courage and commitment to defending religious freedom in America and around the globe.”

“As a shepherd of the Church, a national Catholic leader, and former president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — where he also served as chairman of its Committee for Religious Liberty — Cardinal Dolan’s career has been marked by an unwavering defense of religious liberty for all.”

Doland, who headed the Archdiocese of New York for over 15 years is seen as one of the most prominent Catholic voices in the U.S. The Cardinal worked as the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2010 to 2013 and also served a term as chair of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty.

The Becket statement lauded Dolan as a champion of religious rights. “Whether testifying before Congress, engaging with the press, or shepherding one of the largest Catholic populations in the country, Cardinal Dolan has staunchly defended the right of all people to live out their faith freely and publicly,” the announcement reads. 

The Cardinal responded to the news by saying that 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.”

Dolan said religious liberty is “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.”