This article is the second in a two-part series highlighting religious freedom events held in late October and November 2025. Part one featured events from October 2025 and was included in our November 2025 newsletter.
The 2025 observance of International Religious Freedom Day became one of the most widely celebrated in JRCLS history. The breadth of participation following the Leadership Conference’s call to action testified to the unity and moral conviction of the Law Society’s membership. Whether through scholarship, conversation, or simple acts of kindness, members reaffirmed their shared belief that the right to live and worship according to conscience is essential to human dignity and justice.
Following the global celebrations and events held in October, JRCLS members continued their efforts throughout November 2025, hosting meaningful events that fostered interfaith understanding, academic reflection, and community collaboration.
A representative of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church addresses Religious Freedom from the Adventist Perspective at the Monte Libano Chapel in Campo Grande, Brazil, November 16, 2025.
Brazil Area
In Brazil, the spirit of interfaith dialogue continued with the Juiz de Fora Chapter holding Comemoração do Dia Internacional da Liberdade Religiosa (Commemoration of the International Religious Freedom Day), an in-person event on November 1, 2025, that encouraged reflection through lectures by leaders and representatives of many faiths and the exchange of experiences, emphasizing diversity and mutual respect. On November 16, 2025, the Campo Grande chapter also invited representatives from Catholic, Baptist, Universal, Seventh-day Adventist, Messianic, Umbandista, Candomblecista, and Spiritist faiths to an event in their chapter discussing the importance of living together in harmony and with respect despite having different points of view when it comes to religion.
The Rio de Janeiro Chapter’s event on November 2, 2025, was a special live event for reflection and interreligious dialogue. With the theme "Bridges of Faith: Religious Freedom and the Exercise of Faith in Brazil," the meeting featured Professor Gilberto Garcia, who addressed the challenges and advances of religious freedom in the Brazilian context and its importance for the full exercise of faith in a diverse society.
Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt addresses JRCLS members and government leaders during a special lunch organized by the Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Cristobal chapters on November 21, 2025.
Dominican Republic Area
The Santo Domingo, Santiago, and San Cristóbal Chapters of the Dominican Republic united for a Special Lunch on November 21, 2025, featuring a keynote address by Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, General Authority Seventy, on the importance of religious freedom. Held at the Santo Domingo Temple Square complex, the event provided an opportunity for members and guests to share perspectives on faith, tolerance, and the role of law in safeguarding religious rights. High Government officials that oversee religious affairs attended this important event.
Mexico Area
In addition to the area-wide seminar held in October, the Mexico Chiapas Chapter co-hosted a Conference on Religious Tolerance in collaboration with the Chiapas Interfaith Council and the Foundation Conciencia Nacional por la Libertad Religiosa. Held on November 18, the conference addressed challenges to religious freedom and the plight of communities displaced for religious reasons, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and education on tolerance and coexistence.
Members of the Philippines Area gathered for a special dinner with Professors Clark & Smith of the BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies, in Makati City, Philippines, on November 22, 2025.
Philippines Area
On November 22, 2025, the Philippines Student Chapter hosted a Dinner with Professors Elizabeth Clark and Hannah Smith from BYU Law’s International Center for Law and Religion Studies. The event provided students and young professionals an opportunity to learn from two leading voices in the field of religious freedom, deepening their understanding of the global and local dimensions of this fundamental right.
United States Southwest Area
The Las Vegas Chapter invited its members to participate in a summit discussing the topic of “Protecting Religious Freedom and Human Dignity: Building Bridges,” held on October 30, 2025. The event featured keynote speakers Katrina Lantos Swett, Sam Brownback, and Shelley Berkley, along with panelists and presenters Leah Chan Grinvald, Gard Jameson, Imam Mujahid Ramadan, Father Mugagga Lule, Anna Rasmussen, Brett Scharffs, and Allyson Egbert. The summit focused on promoting interfaith understanding and religious liberty, encouraging dialogue and collaboration among leaders of diverse faiths and backgrounds to strengthen mutual respect and human dignity.
United States Central Area
Members of the Law Society in the U.S. Central Area gathered on November 20, 2025, for a virtual event titled “Seven Principles for Protecting Religious Freedom.” During the event, Michael Fielding, the Religious Freedom Chair for the Central Area, led an engaging discussion on creative opportunities and ongoing challenges in defending religious liberty. Inspired by principles shared by Elder Alexander Dushku in 2024 JRCLS Annual Fireside address, participants discussed creative opportunities and ongoing challenges we face in protecting religious freedom.
United States Southeast Area
The Huntsville Alabama Religious Freedom Summit marked the first of its kind in the region. Sponsored by JRCLS Southeast Area Chair Justin Miller and held on October 30, 2025, the summit featured panels examining religious freedom issues on both national and state levels, fostering collaboration among legal professionals, faith leaders, and community advocates.
The Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church opened their doors to the public for the Interfaith Open house cohosted by the JRCLS in Logan, Utah, on November 21 - 22, 2025
Utah Area
On November 21-22, 2025, JRCLS member and 2025 Religious Liberty Fellow Wendy Neely hosted an Interfaith Open House in Cache Valley, Utah, where the public toured different religious buildings every hour. Places of worship available to tour included the following: Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, the Logan Islamic Center, the First Presbyterian Church of Logan, the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists, the St. John's Episcopal Church, the Buddhist Community, and the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The two-day event encouraged dialogue and attendees learned about the following religious topics: significance of traditional or ceremonial clothing; the meaning of special holidays, customs, or traditions; religious structure; terminology; appropriate titles for religious leaders; basic doctrines; sacred texts; and how religions support families and the community.
Continuing the Global Effort
From Latin America to Asia, and across the United States, JRCLS members have shown that the defense of religious freedom is both a personal commitment and a collective mission. Each event–whether academic, interfaith, or devotional–adds to a growing global movement dedicated to ensuring that all people may believe, worship, and live according to the dictates of their conscience.
The Law Society extends heartfelt gratitude to every area, chapter and member who contributed to these efforts and invites others to continue sharing their experiences on the JRCLS social media platforms. Together, these actions form a living testament to the Law Society’s mission.