charity

August 20, 2024

Why I Slept on the Streets for a Year

Poverty has always been part of my life. First, in my own family: we were considerably poor, and I spent my entire childhood surrounded by poverty. Over the years, while pastoring a church and training new pastors at seminary, I became involved in relief projects for those who were even poorer than I was. Continue Reading...

August 12, 2021

Ford Foundation’s aim to ‘change philanthropy’ warps the true meaning of ‘justice’ and ‘generosity’

The Ford Foundation gives over $500 million dollars annually, mostly in grants, to nonprofit organizations around the world. Foundation President Darren Walker came from humble beginnings in rural Texas and now oversees the Foundation’s $15 billion endowment. Continue Reading...

April 21, 2021

The free market vs. the ‘Really Really Free Market’

Recently in Grand Rapids an old idea served as a catalyst for a new community event, the “Really Really Free Market.” This “market” was open to guests where they are free to give and take a range of goods provided by community members and organizations free of charge: Organizer MC Camp said the community-building event feels too good to be true to many, but represents local generosity. Continue Reading...

December 16, 2020

Religion adds billions to the economy, study finds

As church attendance and religious affiliation continue to decline across the West, many have lamented the spiritual and social side effects, including a weakening of civil society and the fragmentation of community life. Continue Reading...

September 28, 2020

The right attitude about tithing during COVID-19

COVID-19 has caused thousands to lose their jobs and other regular sources of income. As a result, many have had to cut any extra or unnecessary spending to make ends meet. Continue Reading...

June 29, 2020

Rev. Robert Sirico: The Church’s ‘anemic response’ to COVID-19 hurts everyone

The political response to COVID-19 has created an economic downturn unprecedented since the Great Depression. However, the Church’s “anemic response” has deprived the poor of spiritual solace and the Church of its vocation and vitality, said Acton Institute President and Co-founder Rev. Continue Reading...

Rev. Robert A. Sirico at the 2019 Acton Annual Dinner

April 02, 2020

Service is love for our God and our clients

For the Italian Nuova Bussola Quotidiana media outlet, I am publishing a series of short reflections on economics, virtue and spirituality during Lent entitled Lentenomics (go here for the first reflection on “sacrifice”). Continue Reading...

March 27, 2020

10 ways businesses are helping you during coronavirus

As the combination of isolation and bad news about the coronavirus pandemic depresses Americans, it is vital to look for the silver lining. The good news is that businesses from coast to coast and around the world are performing good deeds, whether civic-minded or profit-driven, that are making people’s lives better. Continue Reading...

March 06, 2020

Bernie Sanders’ pagan view of charity

Bernie Sanders holds a pagan view of charity. I mean that not in a pejorative but in a denotative sense: Sanders’ preference for government programs over private philanthropy echoes that of ancient pagan rulers. Continue Reading...

December 12, 2019

A bait and switch at Peter’s Pence?

The Wall Street Journal’s recent article on the Vatican’s main charitable appeal landed like a bombshell this week. And it didn’t help that we’re in the midst of the holiday giving season. Continue Reading...

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