On Thursday, April 9th, Catholic Law's Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT), in partnership with Notre Dame's Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government and Catholic University's Carroll Forum for Citizenship and Public Life, concluded their symposium celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a conversation featuring Justice Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Supreme Court.

The evening began with a tenor rendition of the National Anthem by Jason Guerrero of the University's Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, followed by a benediction offered by Fr. Bernard Knapke, OP. Notre Dame’s Professor Vincent Phillip Muñoz served as emcee.

CIT Director J. Joel Alicea then moderated a wide-ranging conversation with Justice Kavanaugh on the intersection of the Catholic faith and the American constitutional tradition.

Justice Kavanaugh offered an encouraging outlook on the state of religious liberty in the United States, remarking that it "has never been stronger than it is right now." When Prof. Alicea raised concerns about polarization and attacks on religious liberty, Justice Kavanaugh offered optimism and perspective, noting how much progress has been made since the 1990s, when religious discrimination was "almost considered a requirement of the Constitution."

"It's not perfect," he acknowledged, "but it is better than it was."

Throughout the conversation, Justice Kavanaugh called on young people to draw inspiration from the founders, encouraging them to "be inspired by the patriots who signed the Declaration" and not to shy away from standing up for their principles. The remarks struck a fitting note of conclusion for a day that brought together leading scholars and public intellectuals, including a recorded video address from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to reflect on the enduring relationship between the Catholic intellectual tradition and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

As Dean Stephen Payne of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law captured in his opening remarks: "It is wonderful to be at an academic institution that tries to be both fully Catholic and fully American."

Watch the full video of the event below: