On 14 May, Tomáš Halík, pastor of the Academic Parish in Prague and a professor affiliated with the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, was presented with the prestigious Templeton Prize, which is awarded for exceptional contributions to the development of the spiritual dimension of life. The ceremony, held at St Martin in the Fields in Trafalgar Square, was attended by the Rector of Charles University, Professor Tomáš Zima, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, doc. Mirjam Friedová, Czech Culture Minister Daniel Herman, and Cardinals Dominik Duka and Miloslav Vlk.
Speaking to an audience of 600 guests, Halík, the Rector of the Church of the Most Holy Saviour in Prague, addressed more general topics related to belief, the necessity of interreligious dialogue as well as current political issues.
Professor Halík is the 44th winner of the Templeton Prize. Awarded since 1972, the Prize went to Desmond Tutu in 2013 and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2012. The first Czech Templeton Prize holder, Halík was awarded in appreciation for his anti-Communist stance after the Soviet-led invasion in 1968, for removing prejudice between atheists and people of faith, and for promoting dialogue among different religions.
iforum.cz, 14/5/2014
Related articles:
Press Release Monsignor Professor Tomáš Halík receives 2014 Templeton Prize at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London [templetonprize.org, 14/5/2014]
