Monday, January 20, 2014

Mon, 20 Jan 2014
School of Law

In a recent trip to Peru, Dean Mat Staver was awarded a Medal of Honor from the Congress of Peru. Dean  Staver and Professor Mantilla also received honorary medals from the College of Lawyers, Peru’s national bar association for attorneys, and from Peru’s only national academic accrediting body. They also met with the Israel Ambassador to Peru.

Dean Staver and Professor Yuri Mantilla were invited to Peru to speak to Congress by Congressman Juilo Rosas, a Member of the Peruvian Parliament. Professor Mantilla is the law school’s Director of Global Initiatives and Program Director for the LL.M. Professor Mantilla is developing the law school’s LL.M. and Juris Master degrees. Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla visited Peru to make strategic contacts for the online degrees and to develop relations and future cooperative agreements with Peruvian government and judicial officials.

 

Congress of Peru Medal of Honor

Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla spoke in the Senate room in the Congress of Peru to an overflow crowd. The room was packed with dignitaries, and many more waited in the hallways. Members of Congress, military Generals, Navy Seals, members of the Judiciary, lawyers, high-ranking members of academia, law students, young people, and more filled the room. The message was broadcast nationally on Peruvian TV.

“I spoke about two worldviews – one with God and one without God, and I compared the French with the American Revolution. That there is a Creator God who gives us dignity and rights makes a difference in our laws and policies. I spoke about God’s higher law and discussed abortion, marriage, and religious freedom,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

“In America we have strayed from God’s higher law. America kills its children, and some are deconstructing marriage. Religious freedom is now under attack, even in the military. By contrast, the Peruvian Constitution affirms the sanctity of human life from conception, marriage as one man and one woman, and is pro-religious freedom,” said Staver.

“It is clear that the Judeo-Christian values that were present at the founding of America remain in Peru. I urged the Peruvians to stand fast,” Staver said. Staver’s message was greeted by applause and warm support and he was bestowed a Medal of Honor from the Congress of Peru.

 

College of Lawyers

Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla also met with the head of Peru’s College of Lawyers, which is Peru’s national bar association to which all lawyers must belong to practice law. After a private meeting, they were led to another room of legal dignitaries where they were presented with an award from the Order of Peruvian Lawyers (Orden de Abogacia Peruana). Dean Staver was also given an honorary medal to the College of Lawyers (Colegio de Abogados).

 

National Assembly of Rectories

Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla then met with the head of the National Assembly of Rectories, which accredits all colleges and universities in Peru. After a private meeting with the head of the accrediting body, they were led into a room filled with Chancellors and academic leaders from Peruvian colleges and universities. The head of the accrediting body spoke of Dean Staver’s message delivered the prior day in Congress. Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla were then given a medal from the National Assembly of Rectories and was presented a gift of glass Ilamas. The head of the National Assembly of Rectories left the meeting to meet with the President of Peru.

 

Palace of Justice

Dean Staver and Professor Mantilla also met with the head of the judiciary for all of Peru, including the Supreme Court. The head of the judiciary set aside time in his schedule for the meeting, having come from an official signing ceremony with the head of the Mexico Supreme Court and the head of the Inter-American Court. Following the meeting, the head of the judiciary rejoined his foreign dignitaries for lunch.  “As a result of our meetings, the door has been opened for the law school to develop externships and other educational initiatives,” said Staver.

 

70,000 Christians Assemble in Soccer Stadium

On the last evening of the two days of meetings, Dean Staver, Professor Mantilla, and Congressman Rosas attended the XXIII Annual Pentecostal Convention, held in an outdoor soccer stadium where 70,000 Christians were assembled. Staver met with the head of the denomination, Rev. Cruz, who later spoke to the crowd. He began by asking for prayer for Dean Staver, Professor Mantilla, and Congressman Rosas. Rev. Cruz then said any politician or nation that promotes or passes laws contrary to God’s natural created order will be cursed and such nations will cease to exist. He then said to the crowd, “You cannot vote for such people.” Rev. Cruz then spoke specifically about abortion, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage.

“Peru retains a strong Judeo-Christian worldview, and because of that, I shared common ground with a wide variety of people having different political and religious beliefs. Professor Mantilla and I were amazed at the warm reception we received. We look forward to developing stronger relations and cooperative agreements with Peru,” concluded Staver.