The Catholic University Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) held on Thursday, October 12, its first Faith in Action lecture of 2023-24 academic year. Visiting Catholic Law by invitation of Elizabeth Kirk, Director of the Center for Law and the Human Person, Luis E. Perez, first Deputy Director of Enforcement at the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Health & Human Services, engaged students with discussion about how his faith impacts his vocation in law. Mr. Perez’s remarks were given in his personal capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of any agency of the United States.

During his remarks, Mr. Perez shared that he understands faith to be our response to Christ's salvific death for us on the Cross. In other words, how do we respond to Christ’s love for us? He shared his belief that the Cross is the path that God gifted us to fulfill His unique plan for each of us in the world. Mr. Perez reflected that the Cross teaches us that when love confronts evil, love suffers but always perseveres. He recommended to students to ask themselves daily three questions: (1) do I trust that God is in control, and that I am not in control? (2) do I trust that the crosses in my life are the ones that He wants me to have? (3) do I trust that the people in my life - family, friends, enemies, colleagues - are not there by chance or accident but are the very means that God has chosen to sanctify me? He also shared how these principles have influenced his leadership within the workplace and his practice of law in the courtroom. He then opened the floor for questions from the audience, composed mainly of first- and second-year law students. In response to a question regarding his favorite book, he recommended that students read, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, by Tom Morris.

The Faith in Action lecture series, an initiative of Catholic Law’s Center for Law and the Human Person, seeks to provide students with living examples of lawyers who witness to their faith through their vocation to law. The Center plans three more lectures in this series during this academic year:

• November 8, 2023: Thomas White, partner at Sullivan Cromwell
• February 13, 2024: Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., Director, Thomistic Institute
• March 21, 2024: Jennie Bradley Lichter, Deputy General Counsel at Catholic University.