NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, January 13, 2012, New York Encounter, an annual three-day cultural event organized by the Catholic movement Communion and Liberation and Crossroads Cultural Center, will open at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in Midtown Manhattan (8th Avenue & 34st Street). Politics, education in the social network age, and the Arab Spring will be among the main topics of this year's event.

On Friday, January 13 at 6:45 p.m., former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon will deliver the keynote speech on politics as vocation, while on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and Matthew Kaminski, editorial board member of The Wall Street Journal, will discuss the ideals and struggles of the online generation. On Sunday, January 15, at 5:30 p.m., Frank Anderson, former chief of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's Near East Division, will lead a panel about the uprisings in Arab countries and the role of religion in the quest for freedom.

"New York Encounter is the place where different cultures can meet each other in a positive way, and that is why an event like this could only take place in New York," said Maurizio Maniscalco, president of the event. "This year we will focus on some of the most challenging issues of our time." He added, "We will also have outstanding artists and musicians from all over the world to show that beauty can bring people together."

The aim of New York Encounter is to give a large audience opportunities for cultural dialogue through public discussions, artistic performances, and exhibits. Among the distinguished speakers at the 2012 New York Encounter will be the Archbishop of Dublin, Diamund Martin, and New York radio host Joey Reynolds.

"Last year three thousand people visited New York Encounter, and I'm sure that our intriguing program will attract an even larger audience this year. New York Encounter is for everyone who believes that a true dialogue among cultures is still possible today," said Maniscalco.

For more information about New York Encounter, contact: Olivetta Danese.  Tel: (914) 548-1275; e-mail: NYEncounter@clhac.com  or visit http://www.newyorkencounter.org.

SOURCE New York Encounter

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