Journal of Gender, Social Policy, & the Law Symposium
 

Religion and Individual Rights Discussed at Journal of Gender, Social Policy, & the Law Symposium

April 2, 2018

How do individual rights and religion relate to one another in today’s world? This was the question American University Washington College of Law’s Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law sought to address during its Religion and Individual Rights Symposium March 30.

The symposium discussed the legal issues around religions and individual rights, with a particular focus in two specific legislation areas: the first, how religion might interfere with medical treatments, health laws, and religious objections. The second dealt with the legal issues regarding the role of religion in education, specifically related to prayers, symbols and LGBTQ students in school.

Kris Vincencio, symposium coordinator, shared the story behind the event and its goal.

“We wanted to create a symposium on the intersection of religion and individual rights since it has been such a relevant topic, particularly in the last few months,” Vincencio said. “You look at issues like the Masterpiece Cakeshop case before the Supreme Court, and the Department of Health and Human Services announcing a Conscience and Religious Freedom division within the HHS office of Civil Rights. Or the Florida Legislature taking up a bill that would mandate posting ‘In God We Trust’ in all public schools in Florida.”

Vincencio said the Journal invited panelists with experience in both health and education that held a variety of perspectives.

“The goal was not to have a debate, but to provide a forum for a legal discussion to help our attendees better understand the various approaches to these often complex and contentious issues,” Vincencio said.

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