Canadian Catholic philosophy professor wins 2007 Templeton Prize

Published: 2007-03-14

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A Canadian Catholic philosopher is the 2007 winner of the Templeton Prize for his life's work on the need to bring both secular and spiritual dimensions to bear in studying such problems as violence and bigotry. Charles Taylor, 75, is currently professor of law and philosophy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and professor emeritus in the political science department at McGill University in Montreal, the city of his birth. Presented annually since 1973 by the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton Prize for Progress or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities has a value of 800,000 pounds, or more than $1.5 million in U.S. currency, making it the world's largest annual monetary award to an individual. The prize was announced March 14 at a news conference at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York and will be presented to Taylor May 2 by Prince Philip in a private ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace. He is the first Canadian to win the Templeton Prize.

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