by Michael Peterson

The Murphy Institute continued its “Hot Topics, Cool Talk” series with the November 15 program “Gun Ownership for Self Defense? Is It the Right Thing to Do?” featuring School of Law professors Greg Sisk and Julie Jonas with President Rob Vischer as moderator.  Over 100 students, faculty, and community members filled the largest classroom in the law school for a spirited yet civil conversation between Professors Sisk and Jonas on the merits of gun ownership for self-defense.  Sisk and Jonas each presented their contrasting stance on the issue followed by an extended Q&A session for dialogue with one another and the audience.

In his introductory remarks, President Vischer described his experiences with guns. He told a story of the hesitation he and his wife shared in allowing their children to play at a friend’s house while living in New York because the parents had a gun in the home. But then the Vischers moved to Minnesota. “If we hadn’t let our kids go to houses that had guns in them,” Vischer stated, “then they would have grown up pretty lonely children.” He went on to remark that the really important thing in the “Hot Topics, Cool Talk” events was the fact that they showed that relationships without agreement are possible and that agreement is not a prerequisite for relationships. The willingness to relate, despite real differences, is especially important in our increasingly polarized age.

Professor Sisk began his presentation declaring that he was defending the morality and utility of owning a handgun for self-defense. Then, he stated seven reasons for concern with owning a handgun. Real problems can arise, for instance, when people own handguns without taking proper precautions to secure them, or without spending enough time practicing with them, or without the right temperament for owning them, or when not taking enough care of their mental health. These problems are real, and can be serious, and have to be taken care of.

Sisk then laid out several reasons to own a handgun. He noted that, though the media does not like to mention it, violent crime is rising in Minneapolis. In fact, he claimed, Minneapolis is one of the dozen cities in the country with the highest rates of violent crime per capita: higher even than Chicago and New York. In addition, Minneapolis has a low ratio of police to citizens, and the ratio has been dropping since 2019. This makes police response time to emergencies slower and gun ownership even more warranted for self-protection.

For her piece, Professor Jonas took a more sociological approach. Empirical evidence, she claimed, supported her position that handgun ownership makes the country more dangerous than it otherwise might be. For instance, by far the largest cause of gun deaths in the United States are by suicide. Take away guns, Jonas argued, and those deaths might not occur. Additionally, there are mass shootings to consider. Further, she pointed out, it is not clear from the data that guns are even that useful for self-defense. Handguns are fired in defense in an extraordinarily small number of violent crimes. Jonas concluded that handguns are exceedingly dangerous, often used for self-destruction, and limited in their crime-deterrent effect.

Questions came quickly once the Q&A portion began.  One audience member asked the presenters, “What would convince you to change your mind?” to which Professor Sisk promptly replied, “Nothing!” After a moment’s pause, Sisk then answered that he would support more stringent requirements for obtaining and using firearms, however. In response to a question regarding alternative means of self-defense, Professor Jonas mentioned tasers and pepper spray. She also told the audience that she lived in the suburbs, not Minneapolis itself, and mentioned to Professor Sisk that, “To be fair, Greg, neither do you!”

At the conclusion of the program, President Vischer thanked both the presenters and the audience for their participation in the sort of event that brings crucial awareness to the importance of civil dialogue and models its ideal.

A recording of this program is available in the Murphy Institute video archive.

Michael Peterson is a Murphy Scholar and 3L at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

by Michael Peterson

To celebrate the recent arrival of an icon of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Murphy Institute hosted a presentation on April 18 featuring Fr. Christopher Collins, Vice President for Mission and Kelly Drummer, President of MIGZI, who spoke on the life of St. Kateri and shared reflections on the mission of the Church and the local Native community today.  A Mass was celebrated prior to the program during which Fr. Collins blessed the icon.

The newly received icon was commissioned through Markell Studios, Inc. in Stillwater, MN by the Murphy Institute to contribute to the collection of artwork housed at the School of Law.  Special guest Nicholas Markell of Markell Studios joined us to offer remarks on his work as an iconographer and the icon itself.

The presentation began with introductory remarks by Markell. He began with the story of a little boy who one day went to church with his mother. The boy peered at the stained-glass windows and asked his mother, “Who are those people?”.

“They are the saints of God,” she responded.

The next day, the little boy went to school where his teacher asked the class, “Who are the saints?”. The little boy thought for a moment.

“The saints are those through whom the sun’s light shines,” he finally responded.

“Unless we become as little children…” mused Mr. Markell.

Markell went on to remind the audience that we are all called to holiness, just like St. Kateri. He then used a modern analogy to help explain iconography drawing on the familiarity of the icons on our computers and tablets. The interesting thing about this sort of icon is that when we click on it, a larger world opens up for us. The same thing happens with the icon of a saint: the icon is visual language which uses stylized images, because those who live in Christ are transfigured. An icon represents complete harmony and unity.

The icon of St. Kateri contains 24 karat gold to remind the viewer of heavenly realms. St. Kateri’s faceted garments remind the viewer of a diamond, which becomes more precious by being cut. This symbolizes the saints, who become more, paradoxically, by becoming less. St. Kateri holds a lily, for she was known as “Lily of the Mohawks”.

Mr. Markell ended his remarks with a question: “St. Kateri…who might we become because of her?”

Fr. Christopher Collins followed Markell, beginning with the assertion that the saints reflect the light of the Son of God in unique ways. St. Kateri, he explained, was not always as serene as her image: she was born in New York in 1656 into a culture of upheaval and violence. As a young woman she was captured by Mohawks whose population was being ravaged by various diseases. “Where is God in all that?” Fr. Collins challenged the crowd.

Fr. Collins then referenced the myriad of reasons for discouragement in our times. At the same time, he encouraged that we “zero in on the grace of God touching one person in a mysterious way”. St. Kateri’s skin was scarred by smallpox during her lifetime but these were healed after her death, just as our scars can be transformed through the grace of God. “One life can be an encouragement,” concluded Fr. Collins; “great encouragement can come even from great woundedness”.

To conclude the program Kelly Drummer, a Lakota from Pine Ridge Reservation shared her experiences working with Native American community in the Twin Cities. Drummer described her involvement with several of the over 30 non-profits dedicated to the Native American population in Minnesota including as founder of the Tiwahe Foundation which notably raised over $6 million between 2008 and 2018 to be gifted as community grants. “We should live by the light,” exhorted Drummer, before explaining that Lakota culture is community-based and that one person believing in someone else can give life-changing power. She explained that just as St. Kateri was attached to a vision and a dream, so her work at Tiwahe was a vision and a dream.

Drummer shared the story of how one of her non-profits had touched the lives of two Native American high-school boys. As freshmen, these two boys were failing school. The non-profit provided individualized tutoring, and the boys earned all A’s and B’s their senior year. Drummer continued, speaking of her work directly in the classroom supporting Native students in developing and meeting their academic and well-being goals. She spoke of bringing 500 youth to do the cultural work of making maple syrup. She spoke of leadership development initiatives, including taking kids to the Boundary Waters for five days. “We’re lucky we came out alive!” she exclaimed.

There are also programs which train young people in producing film, podcasts, and radio shows. One non-profit trains children in green energy, energy auditing, transportation, pollution and land sovereignty. Kids even had the ability to build their own bikes. Working with Native Americans, for Drummer, is a calling and, just as the life of St. Kateri was to so many, a great encouragement to those around her.

The icon of St. Kateri Tekakwitha will be installed in the School of Law immediately outside of the Chapel of St. Thomas More this summer.

A recording of this program is available in the Murphy Institute video archive.

Michael Peterson is a Murphy Scholar and 2L at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

by Michael Peterson

The Murphy Institute together with the School of Law Federalist Society chapter co-sponsored the March 29 program “Is God Undocumented? A Look at Immigration Foundations, Justice, and Reform” featuring Michael Scaperlanda, Professor Emeritus of Law and Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Virgil Wiebe, Professor of Law and Director of the St. Thomas Immigration Clinic. Scaperlanda and Wiebe explored immigration policy in the United States from its beginnings to present day, discussing the neo-scholastic theological and philosophical foundations of immigration policy which underwent a series of unbalanced interpretations by the Supreme Court and other governing bodies resulting in the current broken system that oftentimes causes more harm than good. Additionally, they proposed reform at both the state and federal levels needed to bring justice to the immigration system of this country and better serve those in its care.

Scaperlanda began by speaking about the Chinese Exclusion Act. Scaperlanda argued that the United States’ exclusion of migrants did not stem from Constitutional principles, but rather from the “law of nations”. He mused about whether the “law of nations” really does give states the right to restrict immigration. Further, he pondered what Catholic social teaching says about the right of states to ban migrants. Scaperlanda concluded that, while the Supreme Court at one time considered the United State’s right to exclude immigrants as absolute, he is more convinced by scholars positing that states have a qualified right to exclude migrants, and that people have an absolute right to emigrate. He concluded his opening remarks by stating that wealthier nations, including the United States, have a greater obligation to accept immigrants.

Professor Wiebe followed. His opening remarks briefly expounded his faith-based Mennonite principles regarding immigration. Wiebe argued that Christ himself was undocumented—he had no place to lay his head, and his kingdom was not of this world. Wiebe explained that we, likewise, are all temporary residents of this world. Wiebe reminded the crowd that we might do well to practice the hospitality shown by Abraham in Genesis 19, where Abraham welcomed in three strangers. God himself, stated Wiebe, is in the corner of the oppressed. Leviticus 19, for instance, warns us not to oppress the alien, but rather to treat him as one of our own. Wiebe, like Scaperlanda, ended his opening remarks by stating that the United States is the most powerful nation in the world and might profitably reflect on the ways it has gained power through displacement.

Scaperlanda, in rebuttal, claimed that the immigration system is “broken” and offered a three-pronged solution. First, he recommended that the United Stated offer some path to citizenship to people who have built a life here. “Is ‘amnesty’ a dirty word?” he wondered. Second, he proposed closing the border to undocumented migrants. He seemed skeptical of building a wall along the border. “If I was in Mexico, and the United States built a wall, I would invest in the boat-building business!” he laughed. Third, Scaperlanda suggested building a good legal system for undocumented workers.

Wiebe then returned with his rebuttal. He urged the audience to “shift gears” and “consider the reality on the ground”. Arguing that the “chances of some sort of comprehensive reform in the next two years are zero, he showed the audience some charts and graphs explaining the United States’ attitude toward immigration. He showed a map of “sanctuary” cities, counties, and States, explaining that individual jurisdictions, apart from federal immigration laws, can offer extra protections for migrants. He showed a map of States that give aid for undocumented college students. (Minnesota began doing so in 2013). He showed another map of the 19 States in which undocumented folks can obtain drivers’ licenses. (Minnesota joined the ranks of these States in 2023). “And, with that,” Wiebe announced, “we are ready for questions!”.

To the question “How do you reconcile refusal to allow due process to undocumented aliens with the Constitution?” Professor Wiebe answered frankly, “I don’t.” Laughter from the crowd.

“What is the best way,” wondered the final questioner, “of solving the problem of everyone fighting for limited resources?”.

“I think the only way we can do this is in backyard barbecues,” answered Scaperlanda. “The tension gets diffused over a beer.”

Wiebe smiled. “Where’s my beer?” he asked.

A recording of this program is available in the Murphy Institute video archive.

Michael Peterson is a Murphy Scholar and 2L at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

The Murphy Institute is a proud sponsor of the Summer 2022 conference “Freedom, Subsidiarity, and the Spirit of Gift” hosted at the University of Public Service – Ludovika in Budapest, Hungary.  Paper submissions are now being accepted through November 15.  

View the Call for Papers as a PDF.