This week, June 29, was the solemn feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The Apostle Peter is remembered for many things: his declaration of Jesus as the Messiah; his boasting of fidelity, followed by his threefold denial of Christ; and his subsequent repentance and heroic martyrdom
The late French anthropologist and former Stanford professor Rene Girard has an insightful discussion about the denial of Peter and the problem of scapegoating and contagion. Continue Reading...
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July 01, 2020
Acton Line podcast: Are we in a revolutionary moment?
Since late May, many parts of the United States have grappled with unrest. Anger over George Floyd’s death sparked protests, with looting and violent riots breaking out, as well. Protesters have also been defacing and tearing down statues across the country, including statues of Confederate leaders, as well as monuments to George Washington, Ulysses S. Continue Reading...
July 01, 2020
Espinoza v. Montana: A victory for school choice – but for how long?
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue admirably defended religious liberty, school choice, and parental rights. However, the court may have also paved the way for teachers unions and hostile politicians to undermine that victory. Continue Reading...
July 01, 2020
How to drain the poison of outrage out of social media
It is a universally acknowledged truth that there are deep-seated problems with social media. Academics have written books against it; once venerable institutions are being torn asunder by it; individuals are being demonized on it; and all the while, we are spending more and more of our lives on it. Continue Reading...
June 30, 2020
When police get it wrong (repeatedly): The rule of law and police reform
We have a policing problem in America, and we have a particular problem with how we police underserved populations. This is especially true within low-income, African-American communities. These are some of the primary issues brought to light in the recent Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Continue Reading...
June 30, 2020
6 quotes for Frédéric Bastiat’s birthday
The French writer, philosopher, and exponent of liberty Frédéric Bastiat would turn 219 years old this week. For more than a century Bastiat’s concise, wisdom-infused words have led people on both sides of the Atlantic to embrace the timeless principles of limited government, freedom of commerce, and unalienable rights. 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...
June 26, 2020
Shaun King and the advent of cultural iconoclasm
Our open national strife entered a new phase when a leader of Black Lives Matter suggested his members move from cultural iconoclasm to religious iconoclasm. Shaun King’s call to smash all European-looking images of Jesus – echoing an ancient heresy – perfectly illustrates the underlying beliefs and ideologies motivating present-day anarchists. Continue Reading...
June 26, 2020
Video: How ‘Poverty, Inc.’ can help the West cure global poverty
The Acton Institute continues to lead the global poverty discussion, as the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business hosted a screening of its award-winning documentary Poverty Inc. Afterwards the chamber held a virtual panel of speakers from around the world, including the film’s producer, Acton Institute Research Fellow Michael Matheson Miller, about how the movie’s insights apply to poverty eradication programs. Continue Reading...
June 26, 2020
The world will be saved by beauty: Singing, worship, and COVID-19
“Singing? I’ve heard that’s even worse than coughing!” That remark, and the horrified tone of the well-intentioned woman from my local church who made it, echoes inside many congregations these days. Continue Reading...