Halvorson said he had always planned on inviting Gomes, and it was just a coincidence that the invitation was extended on the same day as The Crimson's story.
Grizzle said that because of organizers' intentions to organize a national conference, many prominent Harvard religious scholars were not invited to participate in the Veritas Forum.
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"The most important thing isn't having a big name on campus. That's why we were late in including them," Grizzle said. "Peter was not unique in not having been invited."
Gomes said that he agreed to participate in the conference because he thinks it is good that students are trying to discuss Christianity and secular issues.