Acton Vault

In this episode of Action Vault, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2014 Acton Lecture Series, featuring F.H. Buckley, Foundation Professor at George Mason University’s Scalia School of Law, speaking on the unchecked presidential power we’re witnessing today in our government. Buckley explains that what we assume was the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of a separation of powers was not what the Founders had in mind. What they expected was a country in which Congress would dominate the government and in which the president would play a much smaller role. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton Lecture Series About F.H. Buckley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we bring you an interview that was conducted as part of our 2022 Business Matters online conference, featuring Mark Murray, former president of Meijer (one of America’s largest private companies), former president of Grand Valley State University, and former budget director for the State of Michigan. Murray draws from his diverse leadership experience to speak on how each of us can achieve virtuous leadership. Acton’s director of communications, Eric Kohn, asks him about leadership lessons he’s learned in each of the three industries he’s worked in, current crises facing businesses, and the search for fulfillment. Subscribe to our podcasts Virtuous Leadership vs. Narcissistic Leadership Magnanimity and Humility Make for Good Entrepreneurs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do private property and religious liberty go hand in hand? Are they truly inseparable? The Rev. Robert A. Sirico, president emeritus and co-founder of the Acton Institute, defends private property as the solid ground of religious liberty in this contribution to the 2016 Acton Lecture Series. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton Lecture Series About Rev. Robert A. Sirico Acton research on private property Private property and public good The Church, property rights, and the environment In defense of private property Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With more than a million words of trenchant journalism under his byline and more citations in The Penguin Dictionary of Humorous Quotations than any writer then alive, P.J. O’Rourke had established himself as America’s premier political satirist. Both TIME and The Wall Street Journal labeled him “the funniest writer in America.” In this episode, O'Rourke delivers remarks on the current state of American governance at the Acton Institute's 23rd Anniversary Dinner on October 24, 2013. O’Rourke died at his home in Sharon, New Hampshire, on February 15, 2022, at the age of 74. Subscribe to our podcasts About P.J. O'Rourke Why we need more O'Rourke Conservatives Acton Line: PJ O'Rourke on capitalism; Peter Jackson's 'They Shall Not Grow Old' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2014 Acton Lecture Series featuring Jay Richards, Ph.D., senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and New York Times bestselling author, speaking on why a belief in God is necessary for libertarianism to flourish. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton Lecture Series About Jay Richards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Gerald McDermott addresses the important issue of the state of public virtue and what might be done to restore it in his address at Acton's "Reclaiming the West: Public Spirit and Public Virtue" event in Washington D.C. on December 6, 2017. Subscribe to our podcasts About Dr. Gerald McDermott Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sam Gregg, director of research at the Acton Institute, delivered the opening plenary lecture of Acton University 2017. Gregg’s lecture focuses on the very real dangers faced by religious believers around the world (and especially in developing nations). He also touches on threats to religious freedom within western nations. These threats, ironically, often stem from modern ideological interpretations of “tolerance.” Subscribe to our podcasts About Samuel Gregg, D.Phil. (Oxon.) Reason, faith, and the struggle for Western civilization Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Organizations commonly face roadblocks when trying to address poverty or engage effectively with people directly affected by it. When it comes to poverty alleviation, organizations tend to think that what is needed is the perfect strategy, a new idea, or a great program. What’s most important, however, are the people involved, the relationships built, and the process we use to get to the solution. In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2022 Acton Lecture Series featuring Marlo Fox speaking on building solutions with the people directly affected by poverty, creating organization and community cultures that strengthen social capital across economic lines. Subscribe to our podcasts Thinktank-inc.org About Marlo Fox Acton Lecture Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We often say what’s right and what’s wrong can be vague and not always easy to discern. The natural law tradition says that’s nonsense: Moral basics are known to every human being. If this is true, then we aren’t ignorant of the good, just self-deceived. So what happens when we tell ourselves that we don’t know what we really do know? In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2017 Acton Lecture Series, featuring Dr. J. Budziszewski speaking on natural law and the revenge of conscience. Subscribe to our podcasts About Dr. J. Budziszewski Acton Lecture Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 1994 Acton Lecture Series featuring Sister Connie Driscoll speaking on the welfare myth. Sister Connie (1933–2005) was the co-founder of St. Martin de Porres House of Hope, now the Southside Center of Hope, in an impoverished neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. It’s a community for women and their children who are healing and recovering from substance abuse. Sister Connie believed in personal responsibility and refused any type of government aid. When women entered the community, Sister Connie took their welfare checks and taught them how to pay rent. She described her practice in a 1997 Forbes interview: “They have to turn over 80 percent of their welfare check and 50 percent of their food stamps. I put the money and stamps into a safe-deposit box and return it when they’re ready to leave. We teach them to pay rent, utilities and food bills first, then prioritize what else they need. The word on the street is that ours is a tough house. The women always have somewhere to be: career or computer training, GED classes, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings or a job here in the house.” Subscribe to our podcasts About Sister Connie Driscoll Acton Lecture Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are competing creation “myths” regarding American liberty. The Jamestown, Va., settlers of 1607 have vied with the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony in New England for dominance in America’s self-understanding of its origins. In this presentation, delivered as part of the 2019 Acton Lecture Series, Alan Crippen argues that these narratives have obscured the role of William Penn and his “holy experiment” of Pennsylvania as the most influential seedbed of American liberty. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton Lecture Series Faith and Liberty Discovery Center Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 5, 1994, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas delivered the keynote address at the Acton Institute’s Fourth Anniversary Dinner. His remarks were entitled, “Religion and the Constitution of Liberty.” Subscribe to our podcasts About Clarence Thomas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2021 Acton Lecture Series, featuring Rachel Ferguson, Ph.D., speaking on black liberation through the marketplace. Viewing America’s record on individual rights and constitutional order through a classical liberal lens, Ferguson sees the undeniable and blatant injustices perpetrated against black Americans. But she also discovers black entrepreneurs overcoming extraordinary obstacles and a black community that has created flourishing institutions and culture. Subscribe to our podcasts About Rachel Ferguson Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America Anthony Bradley on why black lives matter Acton Lecture Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Doar, a Morgridge Scholar and the president of the American Enterprise Institute, explores the history and future of welfare policy in America. Weaving together personal anecdotes and statistical insights, he explains the significant progress that has been made to alleviate poverty in past decades. At the same time, Doar maps out many of the obstacles still standing in the way of further advances. Based on decades of experience and the influence of his father's public service, Robert outlines the most important features of an effective anti-poverty program that promotes work, family life, and civil society and that lays the groundwork for a more prosperous America. This presentation was delivered as part of the 2019 Acton Lecture Series. About Robert Doar Acton Lecture Series Subscribe to our podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America has experienced a surge in populism in recent years that has turned the established order of our politics on its head. Where does such a movement come from? What can history tell us about where it's going? And what can statesmen do to channel this political outrage for the good of all the people? In this episode, we bring you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2016 Acton Lecture Series, featuring Ben Domenech, co-founder and publisher of The Federalist, speaking on the rise of American populism. Domenech looks at the history of populism in America, from Andrew Jackson to William Jennings Bryan, and traces that strain of politics straight through to the rise of Donald Trump. According to Domenech, the roots of the current populist uprising in America can be traced to the failure of elite institutions to address or even acknowledge the problems and needs of average citizens. Subscribe to our podcasts About Ben Domenech The Federalist: Culture, Politics, Religion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On November 17, 2021, an audience of Acton supporters and friends gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan to celebrate Rev. Robert A. Sirico’s three decades of leadership of the institute as he officially transitioned to the role of President Emeritus. Sirico’s remarks were a reflection on those years of work in service of the cause of liberty, the current state of political and social discourse in the United States, and his vision for how the Acton Institute can help to bridge the vast social divides that exist today. Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our world is a world of ever evolving technology. Every positive advancement in digital technology inevitably comes with an encroachment on privacy whether it be in business, health, families, or freedom. From rampant cancel culture and propaganda on social networks to data collection and surveillance, social manipulation has become the new digital contagion—influencing our behavior and threatening our security. Protection from the omnipresence of digital tech can come in many mediums whether it be political and economic reforms, challenges in the judicial system, or decentralizing the power of the state and large corporations. How much technology is too much? How can innovations in digital technology be used to serve the masses instead of manipulating them? In this episode, we’re bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2021 Acton Lecture series featuring Michael Matheson Miller speaking on his new book, Digital Contagion: 10 Steps to Protect your Family & Business from Intrusion, Cancel Culture, and Surveillance Capitalism. Digital Contagion: 10 Steps to Protect your Family & Business from Intrusion, Cancel Culture, and Surveillance Capitalism Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Klavan is a screenwriter, author, and two-time Edgar Award winner. Among his works are the internationally bestselling crime novels True Crime and Don't Say a Word. Both books were adapted into screenplays and went on to Hollywood success—the former directed by Clint Eastwood and the latter directed by and starring Michael Douglas. A prolific author, Klavan has also written thrillers for young adults, such as the bestselling Homelanders series, and a number of nonfiction works, including the religious memoir A Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ. That personal story formed the basis of his keynote address at the Acton Institute’s 29th Annual Dinner on October 15, 2019. In that address, Klavan shared the story of his journey from atheism to faith in Jesus Christ and laid out his views on how to speak about faith in a culture that has largely abandoned not only biblical truth but the very idea of truth itself. About Andrew Klavan True Crime & Don't Say a Word The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Distributism is a political and economic theory under which the means of productions would be redistributed to as many people as possible, as part of an effort to decentralize power to the greatest extent possible, and to protect the rights of smaller political and economic units against the encroachments of both central government and big business. While distributists and free market advocates can find some common ground, there remain significant differences between the two groups. On February 18, 2016, the Acton Institute hosted a debate on the topic of distributism. Arguing in favor of distributism was Joseph Pearce, who at the time was writer-in-residence at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tenn., and the director of the college’s Center for Faith and Culture. Currently, Pearce is director of book publishing at the Augustine Institute and editor of the St. Austin Review. On the side of free markets was Jay Richards, assistant research professor in the Busch School of Business and the academic content lead for the Tuscon Project at the Catholic University of America. Acton Institute president and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico served as the moderator of the discussion. Subscribe to Acton Line, Acton Unwind, & Acton Vault Joseph Pearce bio Jay W. Richards bio Acton’s 31st Annual Dinner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Religious-liberty litigants have won 18 of their past 19 cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, 14 of them unanimously or by supermajority vote. But a number of those decisions have been on narrow legal grounds and have not resolved the continuing tension between secular culture and those trying to live their faith in the public square. In this episode, John Bursch, vice president of appellate advocacy at Alliance Defending Freedom, discusses where we’ve been and where we might be going when it comes to America’s “first freedom”: religious liberty. This presentation was delivered on Oct. 28, 2021 as part of the Acton Lecture Series. Subscribe to Acton Line, Acton Unwind, & Acton Vault Alliance Defending Freedom Bio | John Bursch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the market economy rooted in greed and self-interest? Jeffrey Tucker, founder and president of the Brownstone Institute, says no. Many degrees of love are at the core of what it means to exchange, invent, speculate, and produce. True love of neighbor cannot neglect private ownership, the profit motive, and personal vision, all of which are necessary for a vibrant economy that works for everyone. This presentation was delivered as part of the 2015 Acton Lecture Series. Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Brownstone Institute Bio | Jeffrey A. Tucker Latest Book | Liberty or Lockdown The Purges Have Begun Why Masks? Control, Power, and Revenue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, Sept. 23, Rev. Robert A. Sirico, co-founder and president of the Acton Institute, debated Joshua Davis, executive director at the Institute for Christian Socialism, at the St. Augustine's Catholic Center at the University of Idaho on the question of Capitalism vs. Socialism: How does each system serve a Christian conception of a healthy society? Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Capitalism vs Socialism: How does each system serve a Christian conception of a healthy society? What is capitalism? The deceit of 'democratic socialism' How socialism fosters an envious, covetous worldview Why capitalism is worth conserving 9 big questions about democratic socialism An aid to defining 'capitalism' 'Inclusive capitalism'? Why not simply 'capitalism' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a president "good" or "bad"? Are historians always the best judge of such things? Or should we be getting second opinions? In this lecture, Larry Reed, president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education, offers his answers to these questions while taking us on a stroll through the triumphs and follies of some of the men who have occupied the White House. Reed’s presentation was delivered as part of the 2014 Acton Lecture Series. More from Larry Reed Foundation for Economic Education Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between Catholics and Protestants, the list of common beliefs, values, and practices is much longer and more substantive than the differences. (Assuming, of course, they are not heretics to their own traditions.) Why, then, has our alliance been so weak in stemming the tide of public secularization, immoralism, and decadence? In this episode, we bring you a lecture that was delivered as part of Acton University 2018, featuring Peter Kreeft speaking on the commonalities enjoyed by Catholics and Protestants. The Official Peter Kreeft Site Think locally, act locally | Acton Commentary Abraham Kuyper | Religion & Liberty Subsidiarity and Sphere Sovereignty: Christian Reflections on the Size, Shape and Scope of Government The Principle of Subsidiarity | Religion & Liberty What is Subsidiarity? | Acton Power Blog Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2014 Acton Lecture Series featuring John “Chuck” Chalberg as he plays the role of G.K. Chesterton. In his performance, Chesterton speaks about America, which he thought was the only country with the soul of a church. He also addresses the state of the family, past and present. His starting point and end point is this: "Without the family we are helpless before the state." Is GK Chesterton Still Relevant? Why, Yes Video | An Evening With GK Chesterton Acton Lecture Series Subscribe to Acton Vault, Acton Unwind, & Acton Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 11th, 2001 terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth hijacked airliner was crashed in a field near Shanksville, Penn., after a group of passengers rushed the cockpit to take the plane back. The attacks resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans. This attack challenged the way we celebrate our fundamental freedoms here in America. One month later, The Acton Institute had its 11th Annual anniversary Dinner. The dinner featured a keynote address by journalist and political commentator, Tony Snow, as well as comments by Fr. Robert Sirico. A New York firefighter tells his story of 9/11 Subscribe to Acton Vault podcast Subscribe to Acton Unwind podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse describes how the socialist ideal of equality has played an independent role in the breakdown of the family, arguing that socialism has attacked the family directly and has adopted policies that have led to demographic collapse. This presentation was delivered as part of the 2008 Acton Lecture Series. Bio | Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D The Ruth Institute Acton Lecture Series Subscribe to Acton Vault podcast Subscribe to Acton Unwind podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're bringing you a plenary session featuring a conversation with Fr. Robert Sirico and Michael Novak which was delivered as part of Acton University 2012. The life of Novak has been a story of intellectual exploration, with philosophy, Roman Catholic theology, and economics as the pillars of his career. Novak has changed the hearts and minds of millions to rethink how we approach human anthropology within the free market. Novak was a public intellectual, author, professor, and former US Ambassador among many other things. He was the George Frederick Jewett Chair in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and the 1994 recipient of the million-dollar Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. He has authored more than 45 books on philosophy, theology, culture, and economics, including his masterpiece, The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism. Novak passed away on February 17th 2017 at his home in Washington at the age of 83. About Michael Novak The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism Subscribe to Acton Vault podcast Subscribe to Acton Unwind podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're bringing you a plenary speech given by Joel Salatin which was delivered as part of Acton University 2015. Salatin is a full-time, third generation alternative farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. He speaks on defending small farms, local food systems, and the right to opt out of the conventional food paradigm. His farm, Polyface Inc, the “Farm of Many Faces” has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Gourmet, and countless other radio, television and print media. Joel Salatin | Bio Polyface Farm - We Are Your Clean Meat Connection Subscribe to Acton Vault podcast Subscribe to Acton Unwind podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For over half a century America has been suffering from a growing but strangely overlooked crisis: a flight from work by men in the prime of life. Just before the COVID-19 crisis, almost 7 million men 25-54 were neither working nor looking for work. Employment rates for prime aged U.S. men mirrored those near the end of the Great Depression. In the wake of the COVID-19 shock, America's 'men without work’ problem has become even more acute. In this episode, we're bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2021 Acton Lecture Series featuring Nicholas Eberstadt, as he outlines the dimensions of the problem, examines some of its causes, discusses its far-reaching implications, and speculates about possible solutions. Men Without Work: America’s Invisible Crisis Covid relief bill’s side effects on our future economy How to rebuild the economy after COVID-19 Bio | Nicholas Eberstadt, Ph.D. Acton Lecture Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Communism took power in Cuba through deceit and intrigue in 1959. While Fidel Castro denied he was a communist, promising to restore democracy in the island, he began consolidating totalitarian rule and exporting revolution in Latin America and Africa. As the totalitarian dictatorship became evident, Cuba's democratic resistance defied the Castro regime in two phases: 1959-1966 (violent resistance) and 1976 - present (non-violent resistance). US Cuba policy would undergo dramatic changes between 1959 and the present with consequences for the entire hemisphere. In this episode, we're bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2018 Acton Lecture Series featuring John Suarez as he explores Cuba’s history and looks to its future in this address. Bio | John Suarez Center for a FREE Cuba Cuba Libre: Protestors call for an end to communism and oppression How global leaders used COVID-19 to restrict religious liberty Acton Lecture Series Acton Institute Events Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, the race to space was the domain of the state. Today space is rapidly becoming commercialized, opening vast opportunities for entrepreneurs. The commercialization of space also brings challenges. In this episode, we're bringing you a panel discussion featuring Daniel Britt, PhD., Joel Sercel, PhD., and Paul Stimers, PhD., that was delivered as part of Acton University Online 2021. The discussion was moderated by Stephen Barrows, PhD., Managing Director of Programs here at the Acton Institute. This panel celebrates the role of the new space entrepreneurs and discusses the legal and philosophical principles which should underlie humanity’s shift from space exploration to industrialization and settlement. Bio | Daniel Britt, Ph.D. Bio | Joel Sercel, Ph.D. Bio | R. Paul Stimers, JD Bio | Stephen Barrows, Ph.D. Acton Line | Joel Sercel on the ethics of space exploration Acton Institute PowerBlog | The stewardship of space Acton Lecture Series Acton Institute Events Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 1982, Marina Nemat, then just sixteen years old, was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death for political crimes. Until then, her life in Tehran had centered around school, summer parties at the lake, and her crush on Andre, the young man she had met at church. But when math and history were subordinated to the study of the Koran and political propaganda, Marina protested. Her teacher replied, "If you don't like it, leave." She did, and, to her surprise, other students followed. Soon she was arrested with hundreds of other youths who had dared to speak out, and they were taken to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Two guards interrogated her. One beat her into unconsciousness; the other, Ali, fell in love with her. Sentenced to death for refusing to give up the names of her friends, she was minutes from being executed when Ali, using his family connections to Ayatollah Khomeini, plucked her from the firing squad and had her sentence reduced to life in prison. But he exacted a shocking price for saving her life -- with a dizzying combination of terror and tenderness, he asked her to marry him and abandon her Christian faith for Islam. If she didn't, he would see to it that her family was harmed. She spent the next two years as a prisoner of the state, and of the man who held her life, and her family's lives, in his hands. Her search for emotional redemption envelops her jailers, her husband and his family, and the country of her birth -- each of whom she grants the greatest gift of all: forgiveness. Marina Nemat was born in 1965 in Tehran, Iran. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, she was arrested at the age of sixteen and spent more than two years in Evin, a political prison in Tehran, where she was tortured and came very close to execution. She came to Canada in 1991 and has called it home ever since. Her memoir of her life in Iran, "Prisoner of Tehran" (Penguin Canada 2007), has been published in 28 other countries, and has been an international bestseller. In 2007, Marina received the inaugural Human Dignity Award from the European Parliament, and in 2008, she received the prestigious Grinzane Prize in Italy. In 2008/2009, she was an Aurea Fellow at University of Toronto’s Massey College, where she wrote her second book, "After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed" (Penguin Canada 2010). Marina regularly speaks at high schools, universities, and conferences around the world and sits on the Board of Directors at CCVT (Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture) and on advisory boards at ACAT (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture) and PEN Canada. She also teaches memoir writing, in Farsi and in English, at the School of Continuing Studies at University of Toronto and writes book reviews for The Globe and Mail. This presentation was delivered as part of the 2015 Acton Lecture Series. Prisoner of Tehran: One Woman's Story of Survival Inside an Iranian Prison Religious liberty versus secular tyranny Marina Nemat speaks at Acton University 2013 An interview with Marina Nemat Acton Lecture Series Acton Institute Events Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saul Alinsky might be called the "anti-Acton". As Lord Acton warned that power corrupts, Saul Alinsky, the father of modern "community organizing", rejoiced that corruption empowers. Decades after Alinsky's death his ideas and teaching continue to shape the American political and social landscape. This lecture given by Joseph A. Morris, President of The Lincoln Legal Foundation, supplies an overview of Alinksy's thinking and shows its application in current events. This presentation was delivered as part of the 2010 Acton Lecture Series. Although this lecture was 11 years ago, the influence of Alinksy’s writings are more dominant now in our political culture than ever before. The Heartland Institute - Joseph A. Morris Events | Acton Institute The roots of radicals' rage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2021 Acton Lecture Series featuring Dr. Carl Trueman on his book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. In this timely work, he explores the development of the sexual revolution as a symptom—rather than the cause—of the human search for identity. Trueman surveys the past, brings clarity to the present, and gives guidance for the future as Christians navigate the culture in humanity’s ever-changing quest for identity. Book: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Why the Market Needs the Family The libertine road to serfdom – Acton Institute PowerBlog What do the Cold War and the Sexual Revolution have in common? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The greatest civilization of ancient times expired more than 1,500 years ago but the lessons to be learned from its experience are eternal. In this lecture, Lawrence W. Reed focuses on the Roman Republic—the key features, personalities and events that defined its rise as well as those that caused its decay in the First Century B.C. into an imperial autocracy. Many of the trends of our day echo those of the ancient Republic, which make its lessons all the more relevant, even pressing, for us now. Reed became president of the Foundation for Economic Education in 2008. Prior to that, he was founder and president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. He also taught economics and chaired the department of economics at Northwood University in Michigan from 1977 to 1984. He holds a B.A. in economics from Grove City College and an M.A. in history from Slippery Rock State University. Foundation for Economic Education The History of Freedom in Antiquity Romenomics: How to understand the present through the commercial past Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're bringing you a presentation that was delivered as part of the 2021 Acton Lecture Series featuring Jessica Hooten Wilson speaking on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and his fight against propaganda using art to force "even an opposing heart to surrender." Through fiction, Solzhenitsyn provides a way to love our so-called enemies, encourage conversation rather than silencing, and, even when all appears despairing, open the door to hope. Solzhenitsyn: Prophet to America Solzhenitsyn's advice to the free world Solzhenitsyn: Freedom's habits and hindrances Alexander Solzhenitsyn - Religion & Liberty Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the dragon slayer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we bring you an Acton Lecture featuring Dr. Patrick Gerry as he addresses the false promise of big government. The debate over the size and scope of the federal government has raged since the New Deal. So why have opponents of big government so rarely made political headway? Because they fail to address the fundamental issue. Patrick Garry is a law professor with a Ph.D. in constitutional history. He has testified before Congress on constitutional issues and is a contributor to The Oxford Companion to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the author of numerous constitutional law books, including Wrestling With God: The Court's Tortuous Treatment of Religion and An Entrenched Legacy: How the New Deal Constitutional Revolution Continues to Shape the Role of the Supreme Court. Is big government a near occasion of sin? Fearing Big Government Class warriors for big government Rev. Sirico: The dangers of accepting government money, even in a crisis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beginning with a conversation prompted by African American scholars like Dr. Alvin Poussaint of Harvard Medical School, to the current Black Lives Matter movement, there has been much debate about what led to the death of George Floyd as well as other systemic challenges that undermine black thriving. Anthony Bradley provides a distinctly Christian perspective on what is needed for black communities to thrive from within. In addition to the social and structural issues that must be addressed, within black communities there are opportunities for social change based on God's vision for human flourishing. Although the Black Lives Matter movement keeps the church on the margins, Bradley believes that enduring change cannot happen without the church and other civil-society institutions. Why do black lives matter? Black Marriage Matters The rise of the black entrepreneur: A new force for economic and moral leadership How Christians should think about racism and police brutality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On June 17th, 1997, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia delivered the keynote address at the Acton Institute's 7th Annual Anniversary dinner. His remarks were entitled "On Interpreting the Constitution." Justice Scalia was arguably the Supreme Court’s most famous originalist in interpreting the Constitution. Scalia was equally known for using a textualist approach to statutory interpretation of the law. Back when he gave this address, originalism and textualism were essentially synonymous. Today however, there is a clear distinction between the two. Originalism is the interpretation of the Constitution as it would have been understood when it was first adopted. Textualism is the idea that what the text says, is simply the law. According to Scalia, the constitution is static - it cannot change and should not be open to discussion surrounding historical or present inquiries. This approach directly opposes the idea that the Constitution is a living document which should adapt to our ever changing culture and societal norms. Scalia’s argument is that instead of examining the intentions of the drafters, we should look to the common understanding of the text at the time it was written. Scalia believed that the law does not allow room for hearsay or subjective interpretations, and is often quoted as saying, “The text is the law, and it is the text that must be observed.” Biography on Justice Scalia 5 Facts About The U.S. Constitution What is our Constitution? - by Justice Antonin Scalia The Constitutional Way to Defeat Cancel Culture Acton Video - Justice Antonin Scalia's Keynote Address Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re bringing you a conversation from our recent Business Matters 2021 conference. Business Matters brought together leading experts and CEOs to address some of the most critical issue and biggest challenges facing businesses in these volatile times. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and political turmoil, we have seldom seen a more uncertain time for our businesses and for the world. Business leaders are being tested by switching to remote work, closing and reopening offices, adjusting to the changing needs of clients, laying off employees, and preparing for policy changes under a new presidential administration. This conversation – featuring Amway’s Doug DeVos, Brian Hooks of Stand Together, and dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America Andrew Abela – will discuss the timeless principles that are needed to confront these challenging times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re bringing you an Acton Lecture Series event from December of 2016, featuring Ilya Shapiro speaking on judicial abdication and the growth of government. Ilya Shapiro is the director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and publisher of the Cato Supreme Court Review. In this discussion, Shapiro recounts the fight for the Supreme Court during the 2016 presidential campaign and how that battle crystalized the importance of judges' both having the right constitutional theories and being willing to enforce them. According to Shapiro, too much "restraint" — like Chief Justice Roberts in the Obamacare cases — has led to the unchecked growth of government, toxic judicial confirmation battles, and even our current populist moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re bringing you the most recent presentation from our Acton Lecture Series program, featuring the recipient of the Acton Institute’s 2020 Novak Award, Dr. Gregory Collins. Named after distinguished American theologian Michael Novak, this honor rewards new, outstanding scholarly research concerning the relationship between religion, economic freedom, and a free and virtuous society. It recognizes those scholars early in their academic career who demonstrate outstanding intellectual merit in advancing the understanding of theology’s connection to human dignity, the importance of the rule of law, limited government, religious liberty, and freedom in economic life. Gregory M. Collins is a Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer in the Program on Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale University. His book on Edmund Burke’s economic thought, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke’s Political Economy, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2020 and has already garnered significant attention inside and outside the academic community. He has published, or has forthcoming, articles on Burke, Adam Smith, Leo Strauss, Britain’s East India Company, and Frederick Douglass in the Review of Politics, History of Political Thought, American Political Thought, Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Slavery & Abolition, and Perspectives on Political Science. His current book project is a comparative study of Burke and the Enlightenment. In this lecture, drawing out some important themes of his recently published book on Edmund Burke’s economic thought, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke’s Political Economy, Dr. Collins explains whether Burke overcame perhaps the most powerful moral and metaphysical objection to commercial exchange: that the never-ending process of economic satisfaction is fundamentally at odds with the good life. Acton Institute names Gregory M. Collins of Yale University the 2020 Novak Award winner Gregory Collins - Yale University Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re bringing you a presentation from our Acton Lecture Series program from January 2020 with Adam MacLeod, professor of law at Faulkner University, explaining the rise of morality in public discourse. According to MacLeod, our most contentious controversies today are moral. Political neutrality has failed. We disagree not only about questions of efficiency and democracy but also about what is right to do and who we are becoming as a people. We have not yet understood the implications of this shift in public reasoning from discourse about political ideals to debates about moral imperatives. To disagree well and to flourish together despite our differences, we need to understand the sources of our moral ideas. MacLeod’s lecture examines the roots of our disagreement and advances a proposal for doing difference well. We can preserve civil liberties and pluralism by grounding rights in moral reasons, which provide a more secure foundation for civil rights. Adam MacLeod - Faulkner University Upcoming Acton Institute Events How to talk about rights in our polarized age - Acton Line podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On December 2nd, 2020, the economist Walter E. Williams passed away at the age of 84. Williams worked his way out of grinding poverty in the Philadelphia housing projects to chair George Mason University’s economics department. Over his career he authored 10 books and more than 150 other publications, and become one of the most recognized commentators on our American public life of the last four decades. Williams spread his message of racial equality, the dignity of work, and the morality of capitalism through his syndicated newspaper column, PBS documentaries, and frequent radio and TV appearances. Today, we feature a presentation that Dr. Williams gave in 1994 for the Institute’s Acton Lecture Series, discussing the legitimate role of government in a free society. A quick heads up: as we mentioned, this audio is from 1994. Our production team has done a lot of work to clean it up, but in the beginning of the talk Dr. Williams’ audio is very faint. Rather than cut out the beginning of his remarks, we’ve left them in. If you want to skip ahead to where the audio becomes clearer, then you can jump to the 7:46 mark in the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Acton Lecture Series program from December 3rd, 2020, founder of the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation Justin Beene addressed the topic of transformational leadership in a time of crises. Today’s “new normal” demands authentic leaders who are grounded and yet reflective. Many of us go through life without a rhythm of both reflecting and discerning. Beene discusses how leaders can grow and contribute to the flourishing of our families, organizations, and culture during a time of crises. About Justin Beene Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Acton Lecture Series program from November 5, 2020, Acton Institute's Eric Kohn spoke with David French, senior editor at The Dispatch, about the outcomes of the 2020 election and his new book, “Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation.” In “Divided We Fall,” French surveys the landscape of a politically and culturally polarized America, examining the true dimensions and dangers of this widening ideological gap. Just two days after the 2020 election, French analyzed the impacts the election outcomes (to the extent that they were known) could have on an increasingly divided and tribalistic nation, with each faction believing their distinct cultures and liberties are being threatened by an escalating violent opposition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It might come as a surprise, but poverty rates in the developing world are dropping dramatically. In fact, economic growth in developing nations has far outpaced the growth of high income countries. Thus, not only has the world experienced a historic reduction in poverty over the last twenty-five years, but global income today is much more equal than at any time in the last 100 years. This event presents the good news about poverty alleviation.This event was co-sponsored by America's Future Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg forged a consensus that helped make the American Century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one of only two presidents to have never formally joined a church, people have wondered just how much Abraham Lincoln himself was under God when he said that the United States should consider itself as such as it strove for a new birth of freedom.However, the Civil War shifted the ground decisively under Lincoln's feet. In the cauldron of war, he discovered that God was not merely a remote force or a faceless universal power, but a personal, intelligent, and willing God who intervened in the affairs of men, to direct them in ways that they could not even begin to imagine.This was a God whom he wanted his nation to be under.==`Allen Guelzo, Ph.D. is the Director of Civil War Era Studies and the Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. During 2017-18, he has served as the Wm L. Garwood Visiting Professor in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He holds the MA and PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.