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God & the Gavel — Government
God & the Gavel

God & the Gavel explores the collision of religious liberty, justice, and power in American life. Hosted by Professor Marci Hamilton — Professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania, founder of CHILD USA, former clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and a leading voice on child sex abuse issues, the First Amendment, and extreme religious liberty — and Dr. Leslie Griffin, Boyd Professor of Law at UNLV Law School, a scholar of law and religion, Catholic theology, and bioethics, the show examines the collision of faith and science, child sex abuse cases, the Supreme Court, and the rise of Christian Nationalism.

Speaking from the perspective of progressive believers, humanists, and nonbelievers alike, we challenge the idea that authoritarianism and faith must go hand in hand. Each episode highlights Americans choosing conscience over control, accountability over cover-up, rights over authoritarianism, science over ignorance, and pluralism over power — because real religious liberty protects everyone, not just the loudest voice in the room.

Latest Episodes:

Justice Denied for Child Sex Abuse Victims in 2026 and a Deep Dive Into Opus Dei Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

We are tackling two issues in this episode. First, Marci provides a frank update about the child sex abuse statutes of limitation movement in 2026. Second, we interview journalists Gareth Gore and Tom Carter about Opus Dei, the Catholic cult intent on running Washington.

You might be wrong about LGBTQ rights in the Catholic Church. Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

We talk to two pioneers in LGBTQ rights in the Catholic Church about a momentous religion case. We wrote an amicus brief for them. What they say about the Pope on the issue is extraordinary.

A bit about our guests:

While engaged in study for her doctoral degree at the University of Pennsylvania, Sister Jeannine Gramick became friends with a gay man and began a church ministry to lesbian and gay people. She organized religious services for people with a homosexual identity who had left the Catholic Church because of prejudice against them. Gradually the people she met came to understand that God loves all persons, regardless of one’s sexual orientation, and that the Catholic Church began to welcome them with compassion and love. She co-founded New Ways Ministry, a Catholic social justice center working for the reconciliation of lesbian/gay people and the church. Sister Gramick has traveled throughout the English-speaking world to address groups about sexual identity. She is a Sister of Loretto. Sister Gramick holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame. Sister Gramick has written and edited numerous articles and books. Her books include Homosexuality and the Catholic Church, Homosexuality in the Priesthood and Religious Life, The Vatican and Homosexuality, Building Bridges: Gay and Lesbian Reality and the Catholic Church, and Voices of Hope: A Collection of Positive Catholic Writings on Lesbian/Gay Issues.

Francis DeBernardo has ministered at New Ways Ministry since 1992, first as a volunteer, and then as a staff member since 1994. He has served as Executive Director since 1996. He has conducted programs on LGBT issues and Catholicism in parishes, dioceses, retreat houses, colleges, and religious communities throughout the United States. He authored Marriage Equality: A Positive Catholic Approach. He is the editor and a contributor to Bondings 2.0, a daily blog of news and opinion covering Catholic LGBT topics. His articles have appeared in The National Catholic Reporter, Commonweal, The Advocate, and The American Catholic. He was the keynote speaker at the conference on religion and LGBT issues at the first World Pride event in Rome, Italy, in 2000, and a featured speaker at the interfaith conference at World Pride in London, England in 2012.

Back to School: What Vaccination Choice Really Means featuring Dr. Paul Offit Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

As children head back to school this fall, herd immunity for measles is down while some parents are demanding “choice” with vaccines. The religious right and RFK Jr. have driven this new era. We talk to leading vaccine expert, Dr. Paul Offit, about the perils of choice.

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