World News
Omaha chapter 'first step' in Thomas More Society's US expansion
Published: September 12, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) -- The Thomas More Society of Chicago -- a group of Catholic lawyers founded in 1997 whose members volunteer their work for pro-life, marriage and religious liberty issues -- has expanded into Omaha and hopes to establish other chapters around the country. "Omaha is just the first step," said Thomas Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Chicago-based nonprofit organization. In addition to finalizing the Omaha chapter in August, efforts are under way to establish other chapters in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Detroit, he said. "We want to get Catholic lawyers more involved where issues of faith intersect with legal issues," Brejcha said in a telephone interview with the Catholic Voice, Omaha's archdiocesan newspaper. Lawyers working through the society don't have to look hard to find cases involving rights of conscience, the First Amendment and defense of marriage, he said. "There are several cases involving issues that go to the heart of what we profess as Catholics," he said. "The idea is to get Catholic lawyers on the firing line and using their God-given talents to defend the faith in court." Efforts to organize a Thomas More Society chapter in Omaha began in 2010 and have included benefit dinners for the organization. Brejcha is scheduled to be in Omaha Sept. 21 for the third such dinner, which is being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus council at St. Charles Borromeo Parish near Gretna. It will feature retired University of Notre Dame law professor Charles Rice speaking about threats to religious liberty.
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