God & the Gavel

About 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.

Publisher

Marci Hamilton and Leslie Griffin

Category

government

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Aug 2026

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

3 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

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

   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.

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   You might be wrong about LGBTQ rights in the Catholic Church.

   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 ide...

3. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Back to School: What Vaccination Choice Really Means featuring Dr. Paul Offit

   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.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact God & the Gavel

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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