Gastonia Times

Belmont Abbey College has announced Hadley Arkes as the recipient of the 2025 Benedict Leadership Award. The award, presented by the Benedict Leadership Institute at Belmont Abbey College, honors individuals whose lives reflect the leadership principles of Saint Benedict.

The college established the Benedict Leadership Institute in 2016 with a mission to develop Catholic leaders who can inspire societal transformation through their faith. Arkes is being recognized for his advocacy and preservation of children's lives and adherence to Natural Rights doctrines. The award ceremony will take place on March 13, 2025, at Belmont Abbey College.

Hadley Arkes is a notable American professor and scholar in political philosophy and constitutional law. His contributions span decades, significantly influencing debates on legal and political theory concerning natural law and constitutional interpretation. He has been an advocate for a natural law-centered approach to legal reasoning and played a key role in developing conservative legal thought.

Arkes was born in 1942, completed his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, and studied law at Yale Law School. He spent much of his career teaching at Amherst College.

Known for advocating natural law as a framework for interpreting the Constitution, Arkes's ideas have shaped conservative legal movements, particularly regarding abortion issues. He was instrumental in promoting the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in the 2000s.

"Hadley Arkes embodies the principles of leadership and moral clarity that the Benedict Leadership Institute seeks to promote," said Conor Gallagher, Executive Director of the institute. "His lifelong commitment to protecting life and advancing natural rights serves as an inspiration."

A convert from Judaism to Roman Catholicism, Arkes's religious beliefs influence his academic work. His philosophy integrates moral reasoning into public life laws.

The Benedict Leadership Award acknowledges individuals like Arkes who commit their lives to justice through faith dedication. Previous recipients include Robert Luddy (2024), Nina Shea (2023), Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (2022), Justice Clarence Thomas (2020), Michael P. Warsaw (2019), Leonard A. Leo (2018), and Carl A. Anderson (2017).

Belmont Abbey College is a private Catholic liberal arts institution near Charlotte, NC., founded by Benedictine monks in 1876.