What are parental rights? Are they a legal stance—or a philosophical one?
In today’s conversation, Dr. Melissa Moschella of the University of Notre Dame discusses the profound and practical implications of the parent-child relationship. She then explores how those conclusions operate in the American legal tradition, tracing from natural law to John Locke to historic court cases and the public discourse today.
Chapters:
3:46 True rights imply true duties
10:04 Natural law: knowable through reason
15:00 The rights and duties of parents
22:32 Role of the state in the American tradition
28:44 Twentieth-century shift, John Rawls
37:29 Whether schools can be value-neutral
43:34 Parental rights in American courts
46:47 Beyond religious liberty
55:00 School choice as parental choice
1:00:57 Public discourse: how to talk to friends, family, neighbors
1:05:30 Her book on natural law
Links:
Melissa Moschella, Ph.D., McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame
To Whom Do Children Belong? Parental Rights, Civic Education, and Children’s Autonomy by Melissa Moschella
Ethics, Politics, and Natural Law: Principles for Human Flourishing by Melissa Moschella
Democratic Education by Amy Guttman (argued against by Dr. Moschella)
Brief of Amica Curiae in Support of Petitioners by Melissa Moschella
“Nonreligious Parents Have Rights Too,” WSJ op-ed by Melissa Moschella
Also on the Forum:
The Mortara Case: Parental Authority and Thomas Aquinas featuring Dr. Matthew Tapie and Dr. Lionel Yaceczko
Parents as Primary Educators by Michael Moynihan
Featured Opportunities:
Fathers’ Conference at The Heights School (November 1, 2025)
The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (January 7-9, 2026 / May 6-8, 2026)