The Portsmouth Institute's Catholic William F. Buckley Conference Approaches

From Justin:

We're less than two weeks away from the three-and-a-half day conference hosted at the Portsmouth Abbey School by the newly formed Portsmouth Institute. There's been one change to the roster of speakers who will address William F. Buckley's work and life and the role of Roman Catholics in intellectual society; unable to make an appearance, Christopher Buckley has provided his slot to Tony Dolan, who was a friend of his father's and a speechwriter for President Reagan:

• Rev. George Rutler, Pastor of Our Saviour Church NYC
• Maggie Gallagher, author and nationally syndicated columnist
• Joseph Bottum, Editor, First Things
• Roger Kimball, author and editor of The New Criterion
• E.J. Dionne, author and syndicated columnist
• Kathryn Lopez: Editor, National Review Online
• Lee Edwards, The Heritage Foundation
• Tony Dolan, chief speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan

Other activities during the June 18-21 event include meals, tours of the school's church and wind turbine, and classical concerts by pianist Lawrence Perelman and Portsmouth Abbey faculty. Register online.

As I've said, we don't see these sorts of events that often in Rhode Island, and the founders of the Portsmouth Institute intend to make a regular practice of them. The best way to ensure that they do so — and that other organizations pursue similar offerings — is simply to respond to the opportunity for edification and attend.