Recent policy debates over direct cash grants to parents from the federal government expose our society’s dysfunctional attitudes toward work and parenting. Over at the Detroit News, I have some thoughts and (mostly) concerns. Or as I put it, “The creation of a new, permanent entitlement program for parents seems particularly unwise while our federal debt skyrockets and reform for already existing entitlement programs is so desperately needed.” Oren Cass worries that universalizing a child benefit “goes too far” by...

If Xavier Becerra wins confirmation as secretary of Health and Human Services, he will make history, because Becerra would likely e the first Cabinet secretary to believe the First Amendment does not grant churches the freedom of religion. Such an extreme view, endowed with the full power of the federal government, would vitiate the religious liberty of all Americans. For those tempted to dismiss this as a caricature of Becerra’s position, allow him to dispel that notion – under oath....

The Bible says that eth by hearing, but some believe eth by earmarks. One congressman pared government spending with eternal salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Earmarks are dedicated spending amendments that congressmen often attached to larger, “must-pass” legislation. They fund projects in thee congressman’s home district, typically awarding the contract to a specific vendor. Since most earmarks support indefensible projects that could never garner enough votes to pass on their own, congressmen often trade votes or use them to...

This essay won third place in the essay contest of the Acton Institute’s 2020 Poverty Cure Summit, which took place on Nov. 18-19, 2020. The author will receive a $1,000 prize. Her essay is presented as it was submitted, with only light, grammatical edits. – Ed. The author of the following quotation has been hotly debated, but I fear that its significance has been forgotten: “You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” COVID-19...

Johnson & Johnson’s new COVID-19 vaccine brings the hope that all American adults could be vaccinated by June and, with it, the prospect of returning to a normal life. To this, Dr. Anthony Fauci has emerged to tell the public, “Not so fast.” “There are things, even if you’re vaccinated, that you’re not going to be able to do in society … For example, indoor dining, theaters, places where people congregate,” Fauci said. “That’s because of the safety of society.”...

West Virginia’s schools have historically ranked among the lowest in the nation, even as spending per student continues to rate well above the national average. Unfortunately, instead of pushing for reform, teachers unions and state legislators have fought vigorously to protect the status quo. In 2018, teachers went on strike for nine days, demanding higher pay and better benefits. In 2019, they stayed home again, protesting the state’s decision to legalize charter schools and offer various alternatives. This past January,...

What are the keys to properly analyzing business opportunities, discovering new markets, and troubleshooting barriers to growth? Business degrees, books, and seminars may equip leaders with a technical knowledge of these problems – but in a new podcast, Acton Institute President and Co-founder Rev. Robert A. Sirico identifies two core mental and spiritual traits that incline entrepreneurs toward success. Rev. Sirico joined best-selling author and top-rated Forbes leadership speaker Brad Formsma in episode 64 of “The Wow Factor,” a podcast...

Ideas are inherently social. Teaching and learning, talking and listening, and all forms of salutary social change are cooperative. As the prophets teach, “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” (Amos 3:3) The Acton Institute’s mission “to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles” naturally extends beyond itself. As such, the Acton Institute seeks to equip and empower others who share its mission. One of the ways it does...

A recent article on the Powerblog celebrating the work of delivery drivers, who never seem to be included in the definition of an “essential worker,” reminded me that we do not spend enough time thinking about work from an economic or theological point of view. This series will present a biblical theology of work in three parts over ing weeks, reflecting on both the spiritual and economic significance of work. I begin with three brief anecdotes that illustrate why this...

After a year-long legal battle, a British hospital apologized for placing 51-year-old Andrew Waters under a “Do Not Resuscitate” order without his family’s consent during his 2011 hospital stay, because he suffered from Down syndrome and “learning difficulties.” A disturbing news report shows that doctors have placed blanket “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) orders against people with learning disabilities in order to mitigate an NHS shortage of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mencap, a group that advocates for those with...