Religious liberty is the first freedom articulated in the U.S. Bill of Rights, and Pope Francis has said it “remains one of America’s most precious possessions,” adding that “all are called to be vigilant ... to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.”
Established in 2020, Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative promotes religious freedom for people of all faiths through scholarship, events, and the Law School’s Religious Liberty Clinic.
Learn more about the Religious Liberty Initiative’s leadership and fellows, advisory board, students, news, and events.
“Without freedom of conscience — to believe, and then to live our lives as our beliefs require us — nothing else matters.” – Dean G. Marcus Cole
Leadership
The Religious Liberty Initiative draws upon the expertise of a diverse community of scholars, advocates, and faith leaders from Notre Dame Law School’s faculty and beyond.
The initiative is directed by Stephanie Barclay, a First Amendment expert who researches the role democratic institutions play in protecting minority rights, particularly at the intersection of free speech and religion.
Student Involvement
Equipping the next generation to defend religious freedom is of central importance to the Religious Liberty Initiative. The initiative will provide law students with numerous opportunities to learn about relevant case law and gain experience with research, writing, and litigation on real-world cases.
Click on the button below to read about the 11 second- and third-year students in the 2021-2022 cohort.
Religious Liberty Clinic
With the receipt of a transformational gift from Matt and Lindsay Moroun and family, Notre Dame Law School will put its rich tradition of religious liberty scholarship into practice by creating the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic.
The clinic will train lawyers to defend religious freedom by pursuing claims in trial courts as well as appeals up to and including the Supreme Court.
News
RLI editorial on Ramirez v. Collier published in Houston Chronicle
“Those condemned to die deserve religious liberty too,” the Religious Liberty Initiative argues in a piece on the Texas case.
RLI files amicus brief in Supreme Court school choice case Carson v. Makin
The brief represents elementary and secondary schools from Islamic, Jewish, and Catholic faith backgrounds.
Initiative supports Apache Stronghold in effort to protect sacred site in Arizona
A copper mine would destroy Oak Flat, a place where the Apache people gather for prayer and religious ceremonies.
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Events
Video: The Popes as Guardians of Human Dignity
On October 27, Cardinal Gerhard Müller spoke on the pope’s role in protecting human dignity as part of the tour for his new book, The Pope: His Mission and His Task.
Video: Protecting Oak Flat and Other Indigenous Sacred Places
On April 29, panelists discussed current litigation related to tribal homelands, possible political solutions, and other potential issues on the horizon.
Video: Empowering Women Through Religious Liberty
On March 25, women from a variety of faith communities — including Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, and Native American — shared their perspectives.
Religious Liberty Summit
The inaugural Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit brought scholars, advocates, and religious leaders to campus June 28-29 for conversations about the future of religious liberty in the U.S. and around the world.
The first Notre Dame Prize for Religious Liberty was presented to Nury Turkel of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, delivered the keynote.
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Join Our Network
Notre Dame alumni are invited to assist with the initiative by joining our Religious Liberty Lawyer Network. Click on this button to sign up.
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Join Our Email List
Click here to sign up for our email list. You will receive event notifications and other updates from the Religious Liberty Initiative.
