The Center for Religious Liberty at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, is an academic center dedicated to the study and articulation of the Catholic approach to religious liberty as a fundamental human right for all persons, regardless of faith. This right is recognized by the United States Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Church's teaching in Dignitatis Humanae.
The Center will aim to increase discussion and understanding of these issues by hosting speakers, organizing conferences, awarding writing prizes, providing educational programming, and commenting on religious liberty issues in the public square.
Center Leadership
Mark L. Rienzi is the Center's Director and a Professor of Law at Catholic University. He is also a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School where he teaches courses in religious liberty. In addition, Rienzi is the President of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where he litigates religious freedom cases for people of all faiths. Click here to learn more about Mark Rienzi.
William L. Saunders Jr. is the Center's Co-Director and the Director of the Program in Human Rights, Institute for Human Ecology | Of Counsel | Americans United for Life | Chair of Religious Liberties Group of Federalist Society | President of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Click here to learn more about William Saunders.
Religious Liberty Clinic
Religious liberty is a cornerstone of human rights, empowering individuals of all faiths to live, believe, and act according to their deepest convictions. This clinic offers students the opportunity to champion this essential freedom by working on critical and evolving legal challenges affecting Americans of all faiths. Through filing appellate amicus briefs and submitting regulatory comments on key religious liberty issues for diverse clients , students play an active role in shaping the future of religious freedom. The clinic also involves studying the substantive laws that protect Americans' religious freedoms. Seasoned religious liberty litigators teach the seminar and supervise the case work, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while deepening their understanding of the laws that protect this vital right.
The Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup Moot Court Competition
Founded in 1949, the SSC is the oldest national moot court competition in the United States of its kind and welcomes competitors from across the country. The competition presents hypothetical appellate cases based on a variety of contemporary constitutional issues related to the First Amendment. In the past, the competition has contemplated situations such as political activity on social media, free speech on college campuses, high school dress codes, and national vaccine mandates. The competition is hosted by Catholic Law’s Moot Court Board and co-sponsored by The Catholic University of America’s Center for Religious Liberty.
Click here to learn more.