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The '''Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty''' (founded 1990) is a right-wing, libertarian [[think tank]], part of the [[Atlas Economic Research Foundation]] network, which promotes laissez-faire economics and public policy, but with within a religious flavour apparently aimed at appealing to the Christian rightframework. On their donations page, they declare that "togetherTogether, empowered by faith in God and belief in human freedom, we truly can make a difference." ==Mission== The Institute organises seminars for religious leaders, academics and business leaders which aim to link together 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.''") [http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=2] *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''") [http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=85] *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.''") [http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=44] *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.''") [http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=146] *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.''") [http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/comment/article.php?id=83] ==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=== *[[Marvin Olasky]] ==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 [http://www.pmdocs.com/getimg.asp?DOCID=2070457493/7500&PGNO=2070457493] and in 2002 [[ExxonMobil]] gave $30,000 to the Acton Institute. ==Contact details== Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty <br> 161 Ottawa NW, Ste. 301<br> Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503<br> Telephone: (616) 454-3080 <br> Fax: (616) 454-9454<br> Email: info@acton.org<br> Web: http://www.acton.org/contact.html ==References==