Difference between revisions of "Acton Institute"
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| − | The '''Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty''' (founded 1990) is a | + | The '''Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty''' (founded 1990) is a libertarian [[think tank]], part of the [[Atlas Economic Research Foundation]] network, which promotes laissez-faire economics and public policy within a Christian framework. "Together, empowered by faith in God and belief in human freedom, we truly can make a difference." |
==Mission== | ==Mission== | ||
| − | The Institute organises seminars for religious leaders, academics and business leaders which aim to link | + | The Institute organises seminars for religious leaders, academics and business leaders which aim to link economics and religion. It publishes books, journals, and opinion about related issues, and it runs a ''Center for Economic Personalism'' for producing academic literature. |
Their policies include: | Their policies include: | ||
Revision as of 15:56, 4 December 2004
The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty (founded 1990) is a libertarian think tank, part of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation network, which promotes laissez-faire economics and public policy within a Christian framework. "Together, empowered by faith in God and belief in human freedom, we truly can make a difference."
Contents
Mission
The Institute organises seminars for religious leaders, academics and business leaders which aim to link economics and religion. It publishes books, journals, and opinion about related issues, and it runs a Center for Economic Personalism for producing academic literature.
Their policies include:
- strongly anti-Kyoto ("Religious leaders are right to remain skeptical of this effort to transform unsound science and policy into a moral crusade...Thus the market helps to see that the good environmental steward is properly rewarded for his efforts.") [1]
- pro-biotech ("Agricultural biotechnology, in particular, is an exciting product of human creativity and ingenuity that holds great potential to add to the abundance of God's creation and to improve the human condition") [2]
- against the Microsoft anti-trust case ("We must remember that the biblical theme of justice extols us from favoring one side over another unfairly, regardless of size or stature. Yet it appears that the government's case against Microsoft is the result of "knock down the successful" thinking.") [3]
- pro-SUV ("Protesting car dealerships for selling vehicles that improve people's lives does nothing toward showing the way to transcendental truth. It is a temptation from which, I pray, the Lord will soon deliver his people.") [4]
- generally anti-environmentalists ("A recent development that should be of some concern to Christians is the cozy relationship developing between radical environmental groups and Christian churches... Investing the anti-human environmental agenda with ecclesiastical authority is very dangerous, even when it is done unintentionally.") [5]
Personnel
Directors
- Rev. Robert A. Sirico - President, The Acton Institute
- Mr. David Humphreys - Chairman, Tamko Asphalt Products
- Mrs. Betsy DeVos - Treasurer, The Windquest Group, Inc.
- Dr. Alejandro Chafuen - Secretary, Atlas Economic Research Foundation
- Mr. Barry Conner, America's Home Place
- Mr. Robert Costello, Social Security Choice.org
- Mr. Frank Hanna III, HBR Capital, Ltd.
- Mr. Alejandro Garza Lagüera, Pulsar International
- Mr. David Milroy, Reams Asset Management Company
- Mr. J.C. Huizenga, National Heritage Academies
- Mr. Sidney J. Jansma, Jr., Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation
- Rev. Ren Broekhuizen, Pastor, Ridge Point Community Church
- Mrs. Carol Erickson Martino, Consultant, Ambrosetti Group
Advisory Board
- Dr. William B. Allen, Michigan State University
- Mr. Doug Bandow, Cato Institute
- Rev. John Michael Beers, Pontifical College Josephinum
- Mr. F. Joseph Bradley, Audio Alert, Inc.
- Dr. Rocco Buttiglione, International Academy of Philosophy
- Sr. Connie Driscoll, St. Martin de Porres House of Hope
- Dr. Rufus Fears, University of Oklahoma
- Rev. Joseph Ganssle, OFM, Marian Associates
- Dr. Steve Hanke, Johns Hopkins University
- Dr. James C. Holland, Shepherd College
- Mr. James L. Johnston, Amoco Corporation (ret.)
- Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Toward Tradition
- Dr. Leonard P. Liggio, Atlas Economic Research Foundation
- Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, George Mason University
- Dr. Ronald Nash, Reformed Theological Seminary
- Mr. Michael Novak, American Enterprise Institute
- Rev. Dr. Edmund Opitz, Foundation for Economic Education (ret.)
- Rev. James Sadowsky, SJ, Fordham University
- Rev. James V. Schall, SJ, Georgetown University
- Mr. Harry Veryser, Walsh College
Senior Fellows
Funding
Institutional donors provide much of the funding for the Institute. The Bradley Foundation provided $225,000 during 2001.
There are only two known corporate donors. In 1995, Philip Morris gave $10,000 [6] and in 2002 ExxonMobil gave $30,000 to the Acton Institute.
Contact details
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
161 Ottawa NW, Ste. 301
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Telephone: (616) 454-3080
Fax: (616) 454-9454
Email: info@acton.org
Web: http://www.acton.org/contact.html
References
All references are from the Acton Institute's website, particularly the Public Policy section.
