THE ANDREA MITCHELL CENTER CAPS ITS 2017-18 THEME YEAR ON “STATES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" by addressing a series of challenging questions: What is religious freedom? Can it truly be universal? What are the rights of religious minorities when set against a nation's popular majority?  And when religious liberties seemingly conflict with gender and sexuality rights, which should prevail if the conflict cannot be resolved?  Panelists include Lori G. Beaman (University of Ottawa), Heiner Bielefeldt (University of Erlangen), W. Cole Durham (Brigham Young University), Mayanthi Fernando (UC Santa Cruz), R. Marie Griffith (Washington University in St. Louis), Joshua Matz (Gupta Wessler PLLC), Daniel Philpott (University of Notre Dame), and William Schultz  (Mitchell Center Postdoctoral Fellow).

PROGRAM

Introductory Remarks (9:00-9:15 am)

Panel 1 (9:15-10:45 am): What is Religious Freedom?
WATCH VIDEO HERE

Chair: Jolyon Thomas. 
Joshua Matz: Amicus Brief in Support of State of Hawaii in the Trump Travel Ban Case / Abstract
Daniel Philpott: A Case for The Human Right of Religious Freedom / Abstract
Discussant: Michele Margolis

Panel 2 (11:00 am-12:30 pm): Can Religious Freedom Be Universal?
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Chair: Jim Hrdlicka
Cole Durham: Religious Freedom: A Universal Right Vital to the Protection of the Dignity of Difference / Abstract
Heiner Bielefeldt: Can Religious Freedom Be Universal? / Abstract
Discussant: Rogers Smith

Panel 3 (1:30-3:00 pm): What Are the Rights of Religious Minorities Against Popular Majorities?
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Chair: Daniel Cheely
William Schultz: Bad Faith: Fraud and Religious Freedom in the “Mighty I Am” Case / Abstract
Lori Beaman: The ‘Culture’ of Popular Majorities and the ‘Religion’ of Minorities / Abstract
Discussant: Melissa Wilde

Panel 4 (3:15-4:45 pm): Gender and Sexuality Rights v. Religious Rights: Which Come First?
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Chair: Ronit Stahl
Mayanthi Fernando: Rethinking Religion v. Gender/Sexuality / Abstract
R. Marie Griffith: Gender and Sexuality Rights v. Religious Rights: Which Come First / Abstract
Discussant: Anthea Butler

Closing Remarks (4:45-5:00 pm)