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State Department Identifies ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ on Religious Freedom

In 1998, the U.S. took an important step in promoting religious freedom as a foreign policy objective with the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRF Act). Designed to “strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of religion,” the law authorized “actions in response to violations of religious freedom in foreign countries.” The act also requires that that Secretary of State identify “countries of particular concern,” a designation reserved for...

Work and Eternity

A distinctive of neo-Calvinism, that movement associated with a late-nineteenth century Dutch revival of Reformational Christianity in the Netherlands, is its focus in emphasis if not also in substance not only on individuals but also on institutions. As Richard Mouw puts it, “At the heart of the neo-Calvinist perspective on cultural multiformity is an insistence that the redemption plished by Christ is not only about the salvation of individuals—it is the reclaiming of the whole creation.” This holistic perspective has...

5 Reasons Millennials Should Support ‘Capitalism’

A recent national survey by the Harvard Institute of Politics finds that a majority of Millennials (18- to 29-year olds) do not support capitalism as a political theory. One-third of them, however, do support socialism. As a rule, I try not to put too much stock in such surveys because opinion polls make us dumb. But it’s e obvious that a significant portion of younger American are truly so under-educated that they truly believe socialism is preferable to capitalism. Perhaps...

Sirico: ‘Christianity safeguards balance of anthropology between social, individual’

Rev. Robert A. Sirico, second from left, takes time to chat with participants at the April 20 Rome conference “Freedom with Justice: Rerum Novarum and the New Things of Our Time” French journalist Solène Tadiépublished an exclusive interview today with Rev. Robert A. Sirico: “Entretien avec le père Robert Sirico pour le 125e anniversaire de l’encyclique Rerum Novarum“. Rev. Sirico was in Rome as thefinal speaker at Acton’s April 20 Rome conference “Freedom with Justice: Rerum Novarum and the New...

C.S. Lewis on the Reality of the Moral Law

On the short list of the most enduring Christian books of the twentieth century is C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. The book originated from a series of radio lectures that aired on the BBC during World War II. A YouTube channel called CSLewisDoodle contains a number of videos that illustrate some of Lewis’s selected essays to make them easier to understand. In this video, Lewis talks about the reality of the universal natural law. ...

Radio Free Acton: Raymond Arroyo on Mother Angelica and the Power of Story

Raymond Arroyo of EWTN speaks at the 2016 Acton Lecture Series It was a pleasure to host Raymond Arroyo, host of EWTN’s The World Over, as part of the Acton Lecture Series on April 14th, and on today’s edition of Radio Free Acton, we’re pleased to bring you a conversation between Raymond Arroyo and Acton Institute President Rev. Robert A. Sirico. Over the course of their wide-ranging discussion, they talk about the life and legacy of EWTN Founder Mother Angelica,...

Bruce Wayne: A Capitalist Superhero

“The real hero of the recently released Batman v. Superman film is an often overshadowed character, Bruce Wayne,” says Daniel Menjivar in this week’s Acton Commentary. “Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne is the CEO of Wayne Enterprises and the hero that Gotham, and in the case of this film, Metropolis needs too. Bruce Wayne is, in fact, a capitalist superhero.” In an opening scene, we find Wayne landing in the city of Metropolis as Superman and General Zod battle in...

RELIGION & LIBERTY

Americans Are Still Inviting People to Church

　　When churchgoers show up to their churchs worship service, theyre often hoping to have a guest with them. 　　A Lifeway Research study of US Protestant churchgoers finds 3 in 5 (60%) say they have extended at least one invitation in the past six months for someone to attend their church, including 19 percent who have made one invitation, 21 percent...

Jul 16, 2026

A Scholar

　　This term, the spotlight among both conservative and liberal Court watchers has been on Amy Coney Barrett’s not infrequent breaks from her fellow Republican-appointed justices. Liberal commentators have been quick to praise her, especially in contrast to those colleagues. Those encomiums bring to mind what Laurence Silberman (for whom Barrett once clerked) dubbed the “Greenhouse effect.” That’s the tendency of...

Jul 16, 2026

The Truth of Sanctification

　　The Truth of Sanctification 　　Weekly Overview: 　　We have a great High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf. The Son of God and Man loves you more deeply than you can fathom. He prays for you, that you might walk in the abundant life his death affords you. And in John 17 we get a glimpse into the fullness of...

Jul 16, 2026

New Alliance Aims to Unite Chinese Churches Divided by Geopolitics

　　Anyone wanting to bring together the more than 100 million Chinese-speaking Christians around the world must deal with the thorny issue of the church in China. There, Christians are split between unregistered house churches and the government-sanctioned Three-Self church. Additionally, heated differences in political views make it difficult for the global Chinese-speaking church to unify. 　　Nevertheless, global evangelical leaders want...

Jul 16, 2026

A Dim Hope for Democracy in Venezuela

　　On July 28, Venezuela will hold a presidential election amid suspicions of fraud among the opposition. The dictator, Nicolás Maduro, will face 74-year-old former diplomat Edmundo González. If the elections were fair, most studies point to a 20-25 percent advantage for González. Many believe that Maduro will steal the election or disqualify González at the last minute. So why do...

Jul 16, 2026

Want My Opinion?

　　Want My Opinion? 　　By: Anne Peterson 　　Fools have no interest in understanding, they only want to air their own opinions.- Proverbs 18:2 　　I’ve been reading through Proverbs again. And I’m telling you, Solomon really has nuggets of wisdom for all of us. I hardly start reading and I need to stop and write down some of those verses, so I...

Jul 16, 2026

The High Cost of Political Capture

　　Politics doesn’t just make strange bedfellows; it can also make self-dealing ones. A new study of the economic impact of the $787 billion 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is trying to tell us about the need to close the gap between intentions and outcomes by moving decision-making and accountability closer to the communities the federal government is trying...

Jul 16, 2026

When We’ve Blown It

　　Thursday, July 25, 2024 　　When We’ve Blown It 　　O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. (Psalm 5:1 NLT) 　　Have you ever been betrayed by someone you loved? Have you ever faced seemingly insurmountable odds? Has it ever seemed as though there was no way out of your dilemma? 　　If so, then you have a good...

Jul 16, 2026

Deference to AI?

　　As courts and administrative agencies encounter uncertainty posed by the post-Chevron era, a few foundational principles remain in place and serve as guides through doctrinal disruption. For one, courts have the authority and capacity to say what the law is. Likewise, if Congress unambiguously mandates a specific agency action, including the means to perform that act, jurists and scholars alike...

Jul 16, 2026

God Understands Our Sorrow

　　“He pulled away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 'Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?' At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.” Luke 22:41-44...

Jul 16, 2026