Is the USA Patriot Act a necessary step to combat terrorism in the wake of the September 11 attacks, or a threat to privacy rights and civil liberties? Among other things, the Act authorizes U.S. law enforcement agencies to subpoena library, medical and student records of suspected individuals and organizations without a warrant; conduct search and seizure without notice; and incarcerate suspected non-citizens for indefinite periods without a trial.

To examine the measure from the perspective of the three Abrahamic faith traditions, the Interreligious Center on Public Life (ICPL) and the Center for Adult Jewish Learning (CAJL) will present "A Consultation on the Patriot Act" on Sunday, October 17 at Hebrew College.

The public forum, held 5:00–9:15 p.m. in Berenson Hall, will begin with a short presentation on the Act's provisions by Richard Foltin, director of legislative affairs for the American Jewish Committee. Then Brian Leske, assistant U.S. attorney, Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit, and Charles Baron, constitutional law professor at Boston College and a past president of the ACLU of Massachusetts will respond, engendering a discussion from varying perspectives on the Act's merits and dangers.

After an optional light supper, an interreligious panel will convene to discuss "The Patriot Act, What is at Stake: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on the Needs of the State Versus the Rights of the Individual."

"One issue that the panel will likely focus on is profiling and how it affects persons of color, especially those of Middle Eastern background," says ICPL director Rabbi Sanford Seltzer.

A partnership between Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School, the ICPL offers a forum for Jews, Christians and Muslims to examine and give voice to the principles of these faiths as they bear on critical public issues of our time.

For more information, contact Leslie Schweitzer at 617-559-8798 or lschweitzer@hebrewcollege.edu.

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