Notre Dame hosts the sixth annual Religious Liberty Summit

The original article, written by Elyse Paul, was published on the Notre Dame Law School website.

Each year, Notre Dame Law School hosts the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit, bringing together scholars, advocates, and faith leaders for discussions on complex religious liberty issues and the future of religious freedom in the United States and around the world.

This year, the sixth annual Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit featured over 20 speakers in 6 panel discussions on topics such as the religious foundations of the American Revolution, religious freedom and the making of free societies, and localism, state political experimentation, and religious freedom. Over 100 leading defenders of religious liberty gathered in Chicago, Illinois, for the summit.

Dean G. Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law, introduced the theme in his opening remarks.

“The theme of this year’s summit is ‘We Hold These Truths…’ As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation – the first nation in the history of the world to be founded upon the core principle of religious freedom – it is appropriate that we do so here in Chicago, a city in which virtually every faith in the world is represented,” said Dean Cole.

“The purpose of the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit is to explore issues, ideas, and strategies toward the protection and promotion of religious liberty, here in the United States and around the world.”

The panel discussions were grounded in the broader context of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and reflected on the enduring principles of human dignity, freedom of conscience, and the God-given right of every person to live according to their beliefs.

The Summit’s culminating event was the Religious Liberty Gala and Awards Dinner held on Wednesday, July 8. Members of our new Fr. David Link Council were invited to attend as well.

During the dinner, the 2026 Notre Dame Prize for Religious Liberty was presented to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit public interest law firm based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths.

The 2026 Religious Liberty Scholarship Award was presented to John Witte of Emory University School of Law. A leading specialist in legal history, human rights, religious freedom, marriage and family law, and law and religion, Witte has published over 300 articles, 18 journal symposia, and 45 books.

The Summit also included cultural experiences for attendees, including a tour of the Field Museum, a natural history museum located in downtown Chicago, and a dinner cruise on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. These opportunities provided a chance for continued dialogue among participants.

For more information on the panel discussions and keynote addresses, and to watch a trailer for the event, please check out the original article ›

Inspired by faith, Notre Dame Law School alumni, faculty, and community members stand at the forefront of advancing and protecting religious freedom in our country and abroad. Together with our students, they engage in scholarship and advocacy, shaping invaluable conversations about the law, justice, and the common good. Through the generosity of members of the Order of St. Thomas More, law students benefit from studying in and participating alongside this extraordinary community of scholars and practitioners, preparing them to lead lives of purpose and service.