Would the denominational leadership of the Christian Reformed Church (CRCNA) rather talk about climate change than abortion or marriage? The CRCNA has a website for that. Based on the launch of a denominational “Climate Change Witness Project,” which I explore at Acton Commentary today, I think thisis a legitimate question. The Office of Social Justice, which is leading the project, has previously been criticized by synod for its lack of attention to life issues. A quick scan of the quarterly...

Acton University 2015 Participants After working in the DC area for nearly twenty years, Judi Niedercorn recently moved to the Northern Appalachian area of New York where she founded the Northern Appalachian Socio-Economic Collaborative (NASEC) and is in the midst of transferring pany, SysTactics. pany, SysTactics provides technical and managerial consulting services mercial and government clients. NASEC is a non-profit enabling munities of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties in New York to improve the economy and fight poverty. NASEC is a...

“Massive government and public-sector bined with runaway deficit spending on increased welfare and pension programs has, in part, led to Greece’s economic downfall,” says Zack Pruitt in this week’s Acton Commentary. Could America be heading down the same path? While America does not have the same problems collectively as Greece, similar pension debt vulnerabilities are arising across the country. Unfunded state public pension liabilities (the shortfall between promises made to retirees and workers and the funds currently available to pay...

In a land long ago and faraway, before shows like “The Bachelor” and “How I Met Your Mother,” there was “The Twilight Zone.” Remember the shiver you got when that music came on? And “The Twilight Zone” was never a “horror” show – no maniacs running around chopping teens to bits after sexually assaulting them, all on screen of course. No, “The Twilight Zone” wanted to get you to think … and maybe a little scared. Take this episode: The...

Hands On Originals is a small pany in Lexington, Kentucky, that, up until recently, had very few problems when they declined to print a certain message. Last year, however, the owner, Blaine Adamson, was found guilty of discrimination by a Lexington human mission for refusing to print T-shirts for a local gay pride festival. missioners ordered that Adamson must violate his conscience, and further, must participate in diversity training to be conducted by mission. Fortunately, this story has a happier...

In today’s Morning Sun, Bruce Edward Walker writes about the eco-encyclical’s short-sightedness when es to the merits of technological advancement. To be fair, much of Laudato Si dispenses with progressive calls for population control bat climate change, and goes to great lengths to reiterate Catholic doctrine on abortion and euthanasia and even includes a portion on human ecology wherein Francis discusses natural law regarding gender identity. Rather than wading into the muddy waters of climate-change hype, which, in any event,...

In the aftermath of the Charleston church shooting in which nine people were killed during Bible study, debates and pushes for more gun control revived. Shooter Dylan Roof’s weapon of choice was a .45 caliber handgun with five extra magazines of ammunition. Rightly so, this heinous crime shocked the nation, especially munities. Calls for prayer and support for the victim’s families immediately followed the tragedy. Inevitably, these prayers were followed by new demands for gun controls. Understandably, after such a...

Michael Matheson Miller, research fellow at the Acton Institute, presented a course at Acton University a few weeks ago titled, “Poverty in the Developing World.” The purpose of the lecture was to demonstrate the root cause of global poverty and to analyze the impact of attempts to alleviate poverty through economic aid. Miller was able to draw from the insights he gained during his extensive travels across the globe, and his conclusion was that aid often harms local economies because...

With the Supreme Court handing down significant rulings on such issues as housing, Obamacare, and same-sex marriage, it’s not surprising other decisions handed down last month received less attention. A prime example is the defeat the Court handed to President Obama administration’s agencies. In the 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court recently struck down ing EPA regulations concerning emissions of mercury and other toxins at power plants. the Court pointed out that the EPA did not properly consider the costs of...

In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, Governor Sam Brownback issued a new executive orderto ensure religious freedom protections for Kansas clergy and religious organizations. In the majority opinion of Obergefell, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that, despite this newly invented “right” for same-sex couples to marry, religions and their adherents “may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned,” and further, that “the First...