Is there a difference between “vocation” and “occupation”? The term es from the Latin, “vocare” – to call or receive a call. For almost two millennia in munities and cultures, vocation referred to a religious calling: a monastic order, missionary work or parish labor. During the medieval era, vocation expanded beyond the clerical and embraced medicine (the doctor), the law (the attorney) and teaching (the professor/teacher). Other occupations were respected, but not given the same status. The Reformation rekindled the...

Note: This is the third in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introductionhere. Cabinet position:Secretary of the Treasury Department:U.S. Department of the Treasury Current Secretary:AdamJ. Szubinis servingas the Acting Secretary pending the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee, Steven Mnuchin. Succession: The Secretary of the Treasury is fifth in the presidential line of succession. Department Mission: “Maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting...

Action Institute – THE CRISIS OF LIBERTY IN THE WEST THE BLOOMSBURY HOTEL * LONDON, UK In the West, we have no trouble conceiving of freedom as a means. Freedom, in this context,is defined as increased liberty to order my life with the maximum level of autonomy consistent with a well-ordered society. But classical man would have understood freedom as anend, according to Ryan T. Anderson, the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy at...

In 1980, PBS first aired Milton Friedman’s series, “Free to Choose,” which chronicledthe glories of liberty across a range of areas, from welfare policy and education to healthcare, monetary policy, and beyond. In a new 19-minute documentary, Johan Norberg revisits Friedman’s famous episode on trade, applying its core arguments to our modern economic context and debate, summarizing the key arguments with refreshing concision. Friedman’s episode rested heavily on the story of Hong Kong, which he visited in the original series....

Every February Americans observe National African American History Month, a time set aside to celebrate the contributions that African Americans have made to American history. Here are five factsyou need to know about the history of the observance: Virginia Civil Rights Memorial / Flickr (CC BY 2.0) 1. The precursor to National African American History Month was created in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week...

With the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to fill the seat vacated by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, the United States Supreme Court and the federal judiciary have once again taken center stage in the national political discussion. That makes this a fine time to share three Acton Lecture Series eventsfrom the past year that provide insight into the role of the courts in American society throughoutthe history of the country. First of all, we’re pleased to share for the...

Today is the 106th birthday of Ronald Reagan, the fortieth president of the United States. Reagan wasa great lover of America and one of the most eloquent advocates of liberty in modern history In honor of his birthday, here are six quotes on freedom by President Reagan: “Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuing revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize ings and...

“The question that now demands our full attention is this,” says Abraham Kuyper in this week’s Acton Commentary, “What attitude should Christians adopt in the face of the socialist movement?” And then it is beyond question that we too should be moved to passion by the disorder of our society and the great distress that has resulted from it. We may not, like the priest and the Levite, pass by the exhausted traveler who lies bleeding from his wounds, but...

Watching the unfolding violence and chaos at UC-Berkeley last night, I could not help but think of two people: August Landmesser and Zacchaeus, the reformed tax collector from the Gospel of St. Luke. In my branch of the Orthodox Christian Church, the story of Zaccheus (St. Luke 19:1-10) was read on Sunday as the first of several weeks in preparation for Lent. The tax collector, too short to see over the crowd, climbed up a ore [sic] tree in order...

Series Note: Jobs are one of the most important aspects of a morally functioning economy. They help us serve the needs of our neighbors and lead to human flourishing both for the individual and munities. Conversely, not having a job can adversely affect spiritual and psychological well-being of individuals and families. Because unemployment is a spiritual problem, Christians in America need to understand and be aware of the monthly data on employment. Each month highlight the latest numbers we need...