First Freedom: Religious Liberty in the 21st Century

In his famous Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, James Madison emphasized the fundamental nature of the right to religious liberty, writing that “the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him . . . is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society.”  Unsurprisingly then, two-and-a-half centuries later, cases involving claims to the free exercise of religion remain some of the most difficult and controversial matters requiring resolution by the judiciary.  Archbishop Jerome Listecki, one of Milwaukee’s most visible faith leaders, will join our chapter to discuss this cherished right.  The Archbishop and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee recently filed an amicus curiae brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case pending before the Supreme Court in which the Court has been asked to revisit Employment Division v. Smith, a landmark free exercise decision.

The Most Reverend Jerome Edward Listecki was named the 11th archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Benedict XVI.  Archbishop Listecki was installed as archbishop of Milwaukee on January 4, 2010, by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi.  At that time, he assumed responsibility for the spiritual well-being of Catholics in the 10 counties of southeastern Wisconsin and took on the day-to-day administration of the Archdiocese.  Archbishop Listecki is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and holds doctorates in both canon and civil law.