South Bend, Ind., Mar 3, 2008 / 18:05 pm
The University of Notre Dame has awarded its Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics, to actor and human rights advocate Martin Sheen. He will be presented the medal at the university’s commencement on May 18.
“As one of our nation’s most recognizable and accomplished screen actors, Martin Sheen has achieved a level of celebrity that few Americans enjoy,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., University president. “He has used that celebrity to draw the attention of his fellow citizens to issues that cry out for redress, such as the plight of immigrant workers and homeless people, the waging of unjust war, the killing of the unborn and capital punishment. We welcome the opportunity to lift up his example for our Church, our country, and our students.”
Sheen’s legal name is Ramon Gerardo Antonio Estevez. He adopted his stage name in honor of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the pioneering Catholic televangelist.
While acting in New York City in the 1950s, Martin Sheen became fascinated by Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement she founded. He visited and volunteered at Catholic Worker houses on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.