Join us for a religious freedom symposium
April 14, 2022
Join us for a discussion on religious freedom without the usual politics on April 19, when an esteemed slate of nationally known experts will provide vital insights on this essential freedom. The Freedom to Serve symposium will be at Drake University’s Sussman Theater from 1-5 p.m., resuming 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Seating is free but limited; register here.
“The freedom to exercise our religious convictions is crucial to who we are as human beings,” said John Huynh, director of the Faith Journey program at the Diocese of Des Moines. “We will be exploring what it means to have freedom to serve God, to serve our neighbor, to serve our families and to serve the common good in our communities.”
The symposium offers an opportunity for people of any faith tradition to come together to talk about the shared value of being able to practice one’s faith in the public square, said Susan Sims, chair of Iowa Religious Freedom Day.
“We want to encourage dialogue that advances a deeper understanding of this freedom exempt from the almost customary narrative of the left versus right, and why this kind of freedom remains as important today as it did when considered in the drafting of the Bill of Rights in 1791,” said Huynh.
Among the speakers is Elder Jeremiah Morgan and President Camille Johnson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Diocese of Des Moines Bishop William M. Joensen.
Additional speakers include:
- Steven T. Collis, JD, University of Texas Law School
- Melissa Moschella, PhD, Catholic University of America
- Kenneth Craycraft, JD, Ph.D., Mount St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology
- Seth Smitherman, Jennifer King, Mark Mariani, University of Texas Law School.
For more information on specific times of discussions, follow this link. Send questions to info@iowareligiousfreedomday.org.
The Diocese of Des Moines includes 80 parishes in 23 counties in central and southwest Iowa.