Acton Institute

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty
Non-profit_
vector_
Non-profit_type = Educational
founded_date = 1990
founder = Robert Sirico, Kris Mauren
location_city =
location_country =
location = Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States; Rome, Italy
origins =
key_people =
area_served = Worldwide
focus = Free market economics, ethics, religion, theology
method = Research, publishing, academic grants, conferences, lectures
revenue =
num_volunteers =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan = "Connecting good intentions with sound economics"
homepage = [http://www.acton.org acton.org]
tax_exempt = yes
dissolved =
footnotes = The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty is an educational organization whose ideas are influenced by natural law theory, Christian social thought, and free market economics.

History and mission

Founded in 1990 by Robert Sirico, president, and Kris Mauren, executive director, the Acton Institute is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.The Acton Institute is named after the English theologian, philosopher, and historian Lord Acton, who is popularly associated with the famous dictum that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Its mission statement is "to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." ["About the Acton Institute." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/about/] ]

The Institute organizes conferences and events, ["Acton Institute Programs." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/programs/] ] such as Acton University, ["Acton University." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/actonu/] ] targeting religious and moral leaders, business executives, entrepreneurs, university professors, and academic researchers.

In late 2006, "Istituto Acton" was opened in Rome, Italy, as a European branch of the Acton Institute. [Mauren, Kris Alan. "How does Acton’s Rome office contribute to the mission of the Acton Institute?" "Religion & Liberty". Winter 2007. [http://www.acton.org/publicat/randl/actonfaq.php?id=581] ]

Publications and media outreach

The institute also publishes academic and trade press books, and maintains an extensive media outreach effort. ["Press Center." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/press/] ] The institute's fellows and adjunct faculty write public policy columns arguing for free markets and reduced government intervention [Ballor, Jordan J. "Don't prevent religion from helping to reform prisoners." Faith and Policy. "Detroit News". 23 January 2007. [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/OPINION01/701230314/1008] ] and make themselves available to members of the media for comment. [Maurus, Robert. "Ethical implications of '100 Hours' agenda reach beyond stem cells." "Associated Baptist Press". 18 January 2007. [http://www.abpnews.com/1625.article] ] Columnists unaffiliated with the organization cite the institute's research as well. [Kerstan, Katherine. "Alert to the New York Times: Marriage is not on life support." "Star Tribune" (Minneapolis, Minnesota). 24 January 2007. [http://www.startribune.com/191/story/958410.html] ] Since April of 2005 the institute has also published a weblog named "Acton Institute PowerBlog." [Couretas, John. "Welcome to the Acton Institute PowerBlog." "Acton Institute PowerBlog". 4 April 2005. [http://www.acton.org/blog/index.html?/archives/22-Welcome-to-the-Acton-Institute-PowerBlog.html] ]

Periodicals

*"Journal of Markets & Morality", a semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal focuses on "the relationship between economics and morality from both social science and theological perspectives." ["The Journal of Markets & Morality." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/publicat/m_and_m/] ]

*"Religion & Liberty", the institute's general interest quarterly magazine, addresses current affairs in the context of "religion, economics, and culture." ["Religion & Liberty." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/publicat/randl/] ]

*"Acton Notes", the institute's monthly newsletter, features "a president's message, news, and upcoming events." ["Acton Notes." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/publicat/notes/] ]

Notable individuals associated with the Acton Institute

. ["Board of Directors, Board of Advisors." "acton.org". Acton Institute. [http://www.acton.org/about/board/] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.acton.org/ Acton Institute website]