We live in an increasingly diverse world, with people of different faiths and differing views on important issues. Yet we also live in a world where, according to Pew Research Center, government restrictions on religious liberty are at an all-time high. Because of this, we want to explore what is necessary to facilitate principled pluralism and human flourishing. Also, due to these differing views, conflicts arise where one party claims harm if religious liberty is protected while the other claims harm if it is not. We will explore what principles are necessary to reconcile competing claims to harm, and work to mitigate or avoid conflict by finding ways to protect both interests when possible.
Our Initiative centers around a Religious Liberty Clinic, which is the only law school clinic where students participate in trial and appellate litigation, transactional advising work for religious institutions, international religious liberty matters, and PR related to religious liberty. Those in the Clinic will file complaints, appeals and amicus curiae briefs pertaining to religious liberty issues. We will also create a Religious Liberty Advisory Board of scholars and advocates from the religious liberty field to inform us of emerging threats, recommend cases, and help us think strategically about our approach. All our work will be discussed at the Religious Liberty Summits, and we will communicate our findings and scholarship to thought leaders and advocates in the religious liberty space. We will also develop a website and utilize digital media to disseminate knowledge we accumulate and develop.
Our program will train the rising generation of religious liberty advocates and scholars while helping shape the law to protect religious liberty. Via our activities, we expect to have a significant impact on the future of religious liberty.
