Leaders from religion, government, business, and academia gathered to discuss faith’s role in society
The 2025 Forum on Faith convened leaders from religion, government, business, and academia on October 9 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan to discuss faith’s role in individuals and communities. The event was organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included the Archdiocese of New York as one of about 30 sponsoring universities and institutions.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed participants at the beginning of the lunch program, emphasizing the unique interfaith harmony that exists in New York City and the United States.
“We here in the United States, especially here in New York City, are used to gatherings such as this. Folks of all religions, various languages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups from every part of the world come together in friendship and respect,” Cardinal Dolan said.
The cardinal shared a story from Cardinal Edward Cassidy that illustrated the spirit of interfaith cooperation. “I remember once when my brother Cardinal Edward Cassidy visited, and he went to a synagogue. He came back and said, ‘I am in awe.’ He said, ‘On the bulletin board while I was waiting to go into the temple, on the bulletin board of the synagogue was a notice saying the mosque two blocks away had a fire, and they can’t use their mosque for a while. So they will be coming here and using our synagogue until their mosque is repaired.’ Where else in the world can you say something like that?”
Cardinal Dolan cautioned against complacency regarding interfaith relations. “Never, ever, can we take the ecumenical and interfaith friendship we savor here in this earthly home, that we cherish, never, ever can we take it for granted,” he said.
Other speakers and presenters included Governor Kathy Hochul, the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. A.R. Bernard, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, and Elder David Marriott. The event also featured keynotes and interviews with top jurists about religious freedom topics, including former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and President Emeritus of New York University John Sexton.