The estimable Mollie Hemingway has a post up at Ricochet that examines the curious spillover of Black Friday into Thanksgiving Thursday. She writes, “Do Target executives have the right to make employees leave their families to open stores on days when they’ll be home with their families? Of course they do. Should they? Of course not!” Her concern is “that some people are so addicted to shopping that they can’t even take three days off a year.” I think she’s...

On Nov. 19, Acton Institute President Rev. Robert A. Sirico discussed a recent federal court ruling on the Obama Administration’s HHS Contraception Mandate on ’s Real News. For more on this story, see the Tyndale House Publishers v. Sebelius resource page on the website of Alliance Defending Freedom. ...

Global poverty and its alleviation are often subjects of heated debate. Join us for an AU Online lecture series that explores the theme of human flourishing as it relates to poverty, globalization, and the Church in the developed world. The Globalization, Poverty, and Development series is scheduled for December 6 through December 13, 2012. Online sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit auonline.acton.org for more information and to register. You should also check out...

Making the case for religious liberty for those with ultra-short attention spans. Ed Morrissey also provides a30 second argument: Actually, this argument works beyond the issue of religious-organization exemption as well, as I’ve repeatedly argued. Why should we forceanyemployer to directly subsidize birth control? What role does an employer have in the bedroom, anyway? The intrusion on what should be a free-market choice makes even less sense when prehensive long-term studyby the Center for Disease Control shows access plays no...

In the latest issue of Christianity Today,Wilfred McClay offers six reasons why religion in America really does—and should—enjoy ‘special privileges’: A third argument for religion’s special place is anthropological:Human beings are naturally inclined toward religion.We are driven to relate our understanding of the highest things to our lives lived munity with others. Whether our “theotropic” impulses derive from in-built endowment, evolutionary adaptation, or some other source, the secular order ought not to inhibit their expression. If believers sense a general...

I just finished re-reading through C.S. Lewis’ “Space Trilogy” and have a Holiday book mendation for you: the third title in this series, That Hideous Strength. Certainly all three are fantastic and important reads that incorporate thematic elements relating to theology, philosophy, history, politics, economics and astronomy. It’s “Science Fiction,” but only in the same way that the Bible is “just a bunch of God’s rules.” These three books are bigger than any one genre and the Sci-fi label should...

A schoolhouse in New England from the 1830s. According to a recent Pew Center report, “Record levels of bachelor’s degree attainment in 2012 are apparent for most basic demographic groups.” 33% of 25- to 29- year-olds pleting both high school and college. According to the report, this number is up from five years ago and at record levels for the United States in general. But what does it mean? Statistics like these are constantly being produced, but they are no...

In this week’s Acton Commentary, I take a look at the relationship between sacrifice and self-interest. One of plaints against market economies is that they foster selfishness. But as Paul Heyne points out, it is crucially important to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness: “Many of the most eminent and sophisticated theorists in the economics profession make no effort to distinguish between self-interest and selfishness or between rational behavior and greedy behavior.” The failure to make such a distinction leads to...

In the Autumn 2012 issue of Response, Jeff Van Duzer, wrote an article entitled, “Does Business Matter To God,” on the issue of faith and work. He is a well-respected professor of business law and ethics at Seattle Pacific University who gives a unique look into the role faith plays in business. This entire issue of Response is dedicated to the topics of faith and work. I will write about a few other noteworthy articles over ing weeks. Van Duzer...

Religious groups and businesses who, by weight of conscience, are choosing not to participate in the HHS mandate requiring them to provide abortifacients, artificial birth control, sterilization procedures and abortions as part of “health” care coverage, are now faced with massive fines from the government. The fines for pliance are $100 per day per employee. For panies, that means millions in fines. Eric Baxter, Senior Counsel for The Becket Fund, says …the mandate places a “significant burden” on religious organizations’...