{"id":34960,"date":"2016-07-09T11:26:07","date_gmt":"2016-07-09T17:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=34960"},"modified":"2016-07-09T16:07:40","modified_gmt":"2016-07-09T22:07:40","slug":"reports-from-byus-just-concluded-religious-freedom-annual-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2016\/07\/reports-from-byus-just-concluded-religious-freedom-annual-review.html","title":{"rendered":"Reports from BYU’s just-concluded Religious Freedom Annual Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"BYU<\/a>
BYU\u2019s Conference Center, where the meetings were held
(Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2016 Religious Freedom Annual Review sponsored by BYU\u2019s International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS)<\/a>\u00a0concluded early last evening. \u00a0It was an exceptionally rich set of meetings, and I really enjoyed my attendance at it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Owing to some pre-existing conflicts, I was unable to attend all of the conference, but I did enjoy hearing the remarks of Elder Lance B. Wickman (\u201cDefending Religious Freedom in a Secular Age: Fundamental Principles, Practical Priorities, and Fairness for All\u201d), who is an emeritus member of the Seventy and who currently serves as general counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>. \u00a0He was followed by Matthew S. Holland, the president of Utah Valley University, who is an authority on the thought of the American Founders. \u00a0President Holland addressed the topic of \u201cReligious Liberty v. Secularity: Is the American Founding Still Useful?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There followed four breakout\u00a0sessions, of which it was possible to choose only two. \u00a0I sat in on a presentation by Imam Muhammad Musri<\/a>, who serves as president and chairman of the board of the Islamic Society of Central Florida<\/a>. \u00a0He spoke on \u201cMuslims, America, and Religious Freedom.\u201d \u00a0Then I attended a presentation by the nationally syndicated religion journalist Terry Mattingly, a senior fellow at The King\u2019s College in New York City. \u00a0He tried to help us with \u201cUnderstanding Media Coverage of Religion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

During the final session, I enjoyed presentations by David Masci, of the Pew Research Center; Thomas Berg, from the University of St. Thomas School of Law; Tim Schultz, of the First Amendment Partnership; and Brett Scharffs, who is the newly installed director of the ICLRS.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Owing, first, to prior engagements and, then, to being caught up in really interesting out-in-the-hall conversations, I missed a number of promising presentations on Friday, finally making my way into the meetings only in the late afternoon. \u00a0But I still managed to hear the remarks of Hannah Smith, from the Becket Fund, on \u201cThe Roberts Court and Religious Freedom,\u201d and of Gene Schaerr, who is an adjunct professor at BYU\u2019s J. Reuben Clark School of Law, on \u201cWhat Will the New Supreme Court Do on Religious Freedom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The final session was on \u201cCurrent Developments in Europe,\u201d and featured David M. Kirkham, J.D., Ph.D., of BYU, who is an expert on the United Kingdom, and Michael L. Jensen, who is area legal counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cole Durham,\u00a0the fabled founder of ICLRS who only recently stepped down as its director, gave the closing remarks.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are two newspaper reports on parts of the meetings:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLDS Church\u2019s chief lawyer says not all religious freedoms should be defended the same\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u201cSupreme Court scores well on religious freedom unless sexual freedom is involved\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first report covers the speeches of Elder Wickman and President Holland.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second covers the discussions of the Supreme Court of the United States by Hannah Smith and Gene Schaerr.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last evening, my wife and I, along with two longtime friends from here in Utah and another from Orlando, Florida, enjoyed a pleasant meal with Imam Musri, from Central Florida<\/a>. \u00a0I found him quite\u00a0impressive for his intelligence, his sympathetic understanding of other faiths, and his general good humor. \u00a0I like him very much.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

P.S. \u00a0To point up the importance and even urgency of this topic of religious freedom, here\u2019s a recent story: \u00a0http:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/437637\/euthanasia-catholic-nursing-home-belgium-fined<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 The 2016 Religious Freedom Annual Review sponsored by BYU\u2019s International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS)\u00a0concluded early last evening. \u00a0It was an exceptionally rich set of meetings, and I really enjoyed my attendance at it. \u00a0 Owing to some pre-existing conflicts, I was unable to attend all of the conference, but I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nReports from BYU's just-concluded Religious Freedom Annual Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    The 2016 Religious Freedom Annual Review sponsored by BYU's International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS)\u00a0concluded early last\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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