Acton's Core Principles

The Core Principles provides a framework for Acton Research as it seeks to make clear the path to a free and virtuous society. Read about the Core Principles here.

Acton Research

The Research Department serves as the academic research facility of the Acton Institute, accommodating in-house and externally-based scholars from a variety of nationalities, Christian confessions, and different intellectual disciplines. Read More »

Cardinal Bertone and Metropolitan Kirill on Social Doctrine

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Paola Fantini has expanded her blog post on Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's new work on Catholic social doctrine into a book review for the forthcoming Religion & Liberty quarterly published by the Acton Institute. She has also translated the prologue to the book by Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Kirill. These articles are the first to translate anything from Cardinal Bertone's “The Ethics of the Common Good in Catholic Social Doctrine” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2008) into English. The Italian title is "L'etica del Bene Comune nella Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa."

Quick Links:

Now@Acton Research

Cardinal Bertone and Metropolitan Kirill on Social Doctrine
October 13, 2008

LOLord Acton Quote Generator
August 6, 2008

Should the US Nationalize the Oil Industry?
Dr. Jay Richards
June 19, 2008

Is it Hot In Here? What Should Christians Think About Global Warming?
Dr. Jay W. Richards
April 17, 2008

Emerging Argentine Economic Philosopher to receive 2008 Novak Award
Dr. Carlos Hoevel
February 7, 2008

From the Journal of Markets & Morality

The Moral Dimensions of Poverty, Entitlements, and Theft by Walter Block

In the view of many commentators and pundits, all citizens have an entitlement to be relieved of their poverty, which, they believe, would best be accomplished by throwing other people's money at the poor. This article makes the case that not only do the impoverished not have any such right, but the attempt to furnish them with wealth earned by others constitutes theft and does not help them in any case. Given, however, that such entitlements exist, what is the proper moral response? To approach an answer to this question, this article defines and then applies "libertarian class analysis" to the question and derives from this perspective some counterintuitive conclusions regarding welfare recipients and reparations for past invasions of person and property.