LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mary Ann Glendon upon the occasion of
receiving the John Cardinal O'Connor Award from The Friends of the
Sisters of Life on April 16, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Mary
Ann Glendon upon the occasion of receiving the John Cardinal O'Connor
Award from The Friends of the Sisters of Life at its 10th Annual Dinner
Gala to be held on Friday, April 16, 2010, at the Union League Club, New
York City, New York; and
WHEREAS, A woman of singular distinction, Mary Ann Glendon has contin-
ually demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence, and
diligent leadership in her unwavering service to her community and
profession and consequently has been selected for this most prestigious
commendation; and
WHEREAS, Born on October 7, 1938, Mary Ann Glendon J.D., LL.M, was the
United States Ambassador to the Holy See (2008-09) and is the Learned
Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University; she also teaches and writes
in the fields of bioethics, comparative constitutional law, property and
human rights in international law: and
WHEREAS, Mary Ann Glendon earned her Bachelor's degree, Law degree and
Master's degree in comparative law at the University of Chicago; in
1998, the NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL named her one of the "Fifty Most Influen-
tial Women Lawyers in America"; and
WHEREAS, Well-known and highly respected, Mary Ann Glendon is the
author of RIGHTS TALK; A NATION UNDER LAWYERS; and A WORLD MADE NEW:
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AND THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS; in
1998, she won the Scribes Book Award given by the American Society of
Writers on Legal Subjects for ABORTION AND DIVORCE IN WESTERN LAW, a
comparative study that was featured in Bill Moyers' "World of Ideas"
series; another one of her comparative studies, THE TRANSFORMATION OF
FAMILY LAW, won the Legal Academy's highest award, the Order of the Coif
Triennial Book Award, in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her faith, in 1994, Mary Ann Glendon was a
signer of EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLICS TOGETHER, an ecumenical document
aimed at rapprochement between Catholics and Evangelicals; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Mary Ann Glendon became the first female Presi-
dent of the Roman Catholic Church's newly created Pontifical Academy of
Social Sciences, when she was appointed by Pope John Paul II on March 9,
2004; she had previously served as a member of the Academy since January
9, 1994; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, Mary Ann Glendon headed the 22-member delegation of
the Holy See to the International 1995 Beijing Conference on Women spon-
sored by the United Nations; and
WHEREAS, Mary Ann Glendon was appointed in 2001 by President George W.
Bush to the President's Council on Bioethics; her nomination as United
States ambassador to the Holy See was announced on November 5, 2007; the
United States Senate voted to confirm her on December 19, 2007; she
presented her Letters of Credence to Pope Benedict XVI on February 29,
2008, and resigned her office effective January 19, 2009; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their

profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mary Ann Glendon upon the occasion of receiving the John Cardinal
O'Connor Award from The Friends of the Sisters of Life on April 16,
2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mary Ann Glendon.