Globally and in New York City, the Roman Catholic Church has long been a cultural, spiritual, social, and political force. It helps shape the lives and consciences of New Yorkers of every background, and Roman Catholics make up more than half of the city's population. The Church is also a significant source of community aid, caring for the homeless, sick, and needy throughout the city, including some of its toughest neighborhoods. As MI scholars have documented, Catholic schools provide hope and educational opportunities to the city's poorest kids, many of whom are not Catholic. For the past nine years, Timothy Cardinal Dolan has shepherded the New York Archdiocese. His clarity and charismatic personality have made him an influential figure in the city and across the country. In recent weeks, the Cardinal announced a renewed effort to champion school choice through a new tax-credit law in New York State—a proposal endorsed by other prominent education-reform leaders.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 24 as YLC welcomes the Cardinal in conversation with Thomas W. Carroll, President of the Invest in Education Coalition, to discuss issues ranging from education reform to family structure, poverty alleviation, and religious liberty.

Cardinal Dolan began his ministry in St. Louis, where he helped restructure the college and theology programs of the archdiocesan seminary system. In 2002 he was appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Cardinal Dolan Archbishop of New York; one year later he was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2012 he was elevated to the College of Cardinals. Tom Carroll is President of the Invest in Education Coalition, which supports the adoption of an education tax credit to encourage philanthropy to Catholic and other scholarship funds as well as public schools. Mr. Carroll also is the Executive Director of Catholics Count and Catholics for Independent Action, two new political organizations created to assert the Catholic voice on educational issues.

Please RSVP for this event as soon as possible; space is limited and a waitlist will be created when we reach capacity. If you plan to bring a guest, you must RSVP for them as well.