Roberts also supported the necessity to vigilantly protect the freedoms of the First Amendment.

"[The first] 16 words [of the First Amendment] encompass the foundation of religious liberty in the United States," said Roberts, who has been executive director of the Mass. Chapter of the ACLU for the past 30 years.

Diversity and Distinction sponsored the panel along with other groups involved with the interfaith effort on campus.

"The main appeal [of the panel] is the fact that this was a student- organized and initiated panel on one of the most important questions of the day," Sandel said in an interview after the panel.

"It's heartening and encouraging to see so many students concerned about the very difficult question of religion in public life," he said.