Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Background

The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty is a classical Liberal think tank founded in 1990 in Grand Rapids, Michigan by Robert A. Sirico and Kris Alan Mauren. The Acton Institute also maintains affiliates in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and an office in Rome.¹Convissor, Kate (August 1999). “The Acton Institute: Of Morality & the Marketplace,” Grand Rapids Magazine 36-37. The Acton Institute is a member of the Atlas Network, a global group of free market think tanks.²“Global Directory: Acton Institute,” Atlas Network.  Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/h8KjA

The Acton Institute’s stated mission is to “promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.”³“About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/Fn1Dc

In 2005, Mother Jones magazine listed the Acton Institute among a group of organizations who had received funding from ExxonMobil,⁴“Put a Tiger In Your Think Tank,” Mother Jones, (May/June 2005). Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/BjDZ4 pointing to a $155,000 donation. ExxonSecrets reports that the Acton Institute has received at least $315,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.⁵“FACTSHEET: ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY,” ExxonSecrets.

The Acton Institute appears to have connections with the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation (formerly Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, or ISA), a group that believes Earth’s climate will be able to correct itself from any damage done by humans.⁶“Global warming: a battle for evangelical Christian hearts and minds,” SkepticalScience, October 2, 2014. The Acton Institute was present when the ISA announced the formation of the “Cornwall Network,” which would provide “solidly Biblical information to religious leaders” as well as “sound scientific and economic information” regarding the environment and other issues.⁷(Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/DgV8I

Stance on Climate Change

July 2015

“Is it clear that whatever agreement might arise out of the COP 21 meeting is morally obligatory for governments to adhere to and or churches to bless? Church advocacy to this effect would lead us to conclude as much. But it is not at all clear that there is only one morally acceptable path forward for different nations and peoples to undertake with regard to stewardship of the climate. So despite intentions to the contrary, this level of church advocacy only deepens the uncertainty surrounding climate change and responsible Christian stewardship.” ⁸Jordan Ballor. “Christian Reformed Church Backs UN Climate Change Agenda,” Acton Institute, July 8, 2015. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/ukbUs

December 2013

“[A]s Butler and Morriss remind us, ‘our Creator also granted us energy stored in coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as embedding it within the bonds of matter, enabling us to meet our needs by responsibly using those sources of energy as well.’

While Bartholomew worries about the possible future harm of global climate change on those in poverty, I am far more concerned with the harm of poverty on the poor today. […]” — Research Fellow Dylan Pahman.⁹Dylan Pahman. “Solar Power Simplicity: A First-World Luxury,” Acton Institute, December 4, 2013. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/OmPBf

June 2010

“Unfortunately, the public-policy response to global warming proposed by some evangelicals makes actually helping the global poor more difficult. […]

“To hear a Western (i.e., rich!) evangelical environmentalist tell the poor that they must sacrifice the technologies that would improve the length and quality of life for them and their families in order to achieve a merely speculative benefit they will never see can only make the poor less likely to listen to the gospel that the evangelical brings. Such disillusionment will only deepen when it is realized that those evangelicals continue to enjoy the same lifesaving technologies they are effectively asking the poor to forego.”¹⁰Benjamin B. Phillips. “Evangelicals and Global Warming,” Acton Institute, June 23, 2010. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Bfrkd

May 2008

“We’ve seen 31,000 scientists just came out who are skeptical of global warming. And they’re worried that the policies people are proposing are actually going to harm the planet and they’re going to make people poorer. We also see some of the effects these regulations can have on the developing countries where serious poverty is a real problem.” 

“There’s a lot of skepticism about global warming. One: Climate change. Is it happening? And most people say ‘yes, this is happening’, but how is it happening? You saw perhaps a new study that just came out predicting global cooling over the next 10 years based on ocean currents.” […]

”[…] Environmentalist policies that may or may not work, that are based on not certain data, could actually harm [the poor] and prevent economic development.” — Michael Miller, Director of Programs at the Acton Institute.  ¹¹“John McCain and Climate Change,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/n723b

April 2008

“Climate is changing all the time, the real question is if humans are causing it.” — Acton Institute’s Media Director, Jay W. Richards (Audio below):¹²“An Earth Day Review of Global Warming,” Acton Institute. Archived September 1, 2010. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

2001 (?)

“Global warming, for instance, which remains speculative and based on incomplete computer models rather than on demonstrated science, might cost man and nature a great deal if we rush to impose dramatic limits on fossil-fuel use in a misguided attempt to solve a problem that may not even exist. Just twenty-five years ago, some of the current proponents of global warming were warning us about global cooling.33 Because ecology is still in its infancy, we need to utilize all that we know to help us find prudent solutions for these complex problems. We must also recognize that science alone is insufficient for resolving these matters, especially since these issues have moral implications. Thus, in recognizing that we will have to make unavoidable tradeoffs in striking a balance between human need and a clean environment, we must exercise prudence in addressing environmental concerns.”¹³“The Catholic Church and Stewardship of Creation,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yyE97

Funding

The Conservative Transparency Project lists the Acton Institute’s funding as follows. Note that not all individual values have been verified by DeSmogBlog for accuracy. ¹⁴“Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty,” Conservative Transparency. Data retrived May 18, 2017.

*Note that Koch-controlled foundation values prior to 1998 cannot be independently verified by DeSmog, as original 990 forms are not available. Koch totals for 1997 and prior values via Conservative Transparency.

Note that some of the Acton Institute’s largest funders are DonorsTrust (DT) and its sister organization, Donors Capital Fund (DCF). It has also received funding from Koch-related foundations, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, ExxonMobil, and numerous other conservative and industry funders.

DonorsTrust has been described as the “Dark Money ATM” of the conservative movement, and distributed over $80 Million to conservative causes between 2004 and 2013. By using “donor-advised funds,” DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund can distribute funds without revealing the original source of the funds, providing a layer of secrecy for donors.¹⁵Andy Kroll. “Exposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement,” Mother Jones, February 5, 2013. Archived July 24, 2015.

990 Forms

Koch Funding

According to Greenpeace, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has received a grand total of $857,776 received from Koch foundations from 1997 to 2017. ¹⁶“Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” GreenPeace USA. Archived May 1, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dFb9h

*Original tax forms prior to 1997 are no longer available for verification. If you include these values, the grand total increases. See below for DeSmog’s analysis based on available 990 forms and archived data from the Conservative Transparency project. ¹⁷“Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” GreenPeace USA. Archived May 1, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dFb9h

ExxonMobil Funding

Greenpeace’s ExxonSecrets Project reports that the Acton Institute has received at least $315,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998. ¹⁸“FACTSHEET: ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY,” ExxonSecrets. Archived March 24, 2016.

Key People

Board of Directors

Name

200019“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived August 23, 2000. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zT4jN

200120“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 21, 2001. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kZ45J

200221“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived June 15, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Uj5FG

200522“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived September 1, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/uGLgk

200623“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived September 27, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/M1sAP

200924“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived June 25, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/XKNL7

201025“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 24, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kySdK

201126“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 25, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EYTzD

201327“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived February 14, 2013. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/BQUxy

201428“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 20, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WgVTr

201629“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6fiOuQIu5

Description

Alejandro A. Chafuen

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Senior Fellow, Acton Institute

Alejandro Garza-Lagüera

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Savia, S.A., Pulsar International

Barry Conner

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

America’s Home Place

Bernard T. Lomas

Y

Y

Y

Albion College (ret.)

Betsy DeVos

Y

Y

Y

Y

Treasurer. The Windquest Group, Inc.

Carol Erickson Martino

Y

Y

Consultant, Ambrosetti Group

David C. Humphreys

Y

Y

Tamko Building Products, Inc.

David H. Padden

Y

Y

Padden and Company

David Humphreys

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Tamko Building Products, Inc.

David Milroy

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Chief Administrative Officer

Edwin J. Feulner,  Jr.

Y

Y

Y

Jr, The Heritage Foundation

Elsa D. Prince Broekhuizen

Y

Y

Y

EDP Management

Frank J. Hanna,  III

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Hanna Capital, LLC

Gaylen J. Byker

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

President Emeritus, Calvin College

George W. Strake,  Jr.

Y

Y

Strake Trading Group, Inc.

J.C. Huizenga

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

National Heritage Academies

James C. Rahn

Y

Y

Kern Family Foundation

Jeff D. Sandefer

Y

Y

Y

Chairman. Sandefer Capital Partners, Inc.

John C. Kennedy III

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Autocam Medical

John Crowe

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

President, John P. Crowe Co.

John M. Gordon,  Jr.

Y

Y

Y

Gordon Food Service

Kenneth J. Muraski

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Kent Manufacturing Co.

Kris A. Mauren

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Executive Director, Acton Institute

Leonard P. Liggio

Y

Atlas Economic Research Foundation

Ren Broekhuizen

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pastor (Retired), Ridge Point Community Church

Robert A. Sirico

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

President, Acton Institute

Robert Costello

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Americans for Limited Government

Sean M. Fieler

Y

Y

Y

Equinox Partners

Sidney J. Jansma,  Jr.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation

Wade Fetzer III

Y

Y

Goldman Sachs

Board of Advisors

Name	200030“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived August 23, 2000. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zT4jN	200331“About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute. Archived August 1, 2003. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8snuj	200432“About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute. Archived August 20, 2004. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Rs4eR	201033“Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 24, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kySdK	Description
Alejandro A. Chafuen			Y		Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Senior Fellow, Acton Institute
Alejandro Garza-Lagüera			Y		Savia, S.A., Pulsar International
Barry Conner			Y		America’s Home Place
Betsy DeVos			Y		Treasurer. The Windquest Group, Inc.
Carol Erickson Martino			Y		Consultant, Ambrosetti Group
David Humphreys			Y		Tamko Building Products, Inc.
David Milroy			Y		Chief Administrative Officer
Doug Bandow	Y	Y		Y	Citizen Outreach
Edmund Opitz	Y	Y			Foundation for Economic Education (ret.)
F. Joseph Bradley	Y	Y		Y	Bradley Enterprises, LLC, dba Investors Hotline
Frank J. Hanna,  III			Y		Hanna Capital, LLC
Harry Veryser	Y	Y		Y	University of Detroit Mercy
Hon. William E. Simon	Y				John M. Olin Foundation
J.C. Huizenga			Y		National Heritage Academies
James C. Holland	Y	Y		Y	Shepherd College
James L. Johnston	Y	Y		Y	Amoco Corporation (ret.)
James Sadowsky	Y	Y		Y	Fordham University
James V. Schall	Y	Y		Y	Georgetown University
Jennifer Roback Morse	Y	Y		Y	Senior Fellow in Economics
John Michael Beers	Y	Y		Y	Pontifical College Josephinum
Joseph Ganssle	Y	Y		Y	Marian Associates
Leonard P. Liggio		Y		Y	Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Michael Novak	Y	Y		Y	American Enterprise Institute
Rabbi Daniel Lapin	Y	Y		Y	Toward Tradition
Ren Broekhuizen			Y		Pastor (Retired), Ridge Point Community Church
Robert A. Sirico			Y		President, Acton Institute
Robert Costello			Y		Americans for Limited Government
Rocco Buttiglione	Y	Y		Y	International Academy of Philosophy
Ronald Nash	Y	Y			Reformed Theological Seminary
Rufus Fears	Y	Y		Y	University of Oklahoma
Sidney J. Jansma,  Jr.			Y		Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation
Sr. Connie Driscoll	Y	Y			St. Martin de Porres House of Hope
Steve Hanke	Y	Y		Y	Johns Hopkins University
William B. Allen	Y	Y		Y	Michigan State University

Staff

As of March 2016, the following staff members were listed on the Acton Institute’s website. ³⁴“Acton Institute Staff,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/CoOFr

See the attached spreadsheet for the Acton Institute’s complete staff list (.xlsx).

Executive

• Rev. Robert A. Sirico — President
• Kris Alan Mauren — Executive Director
• Holly Rowley — Executive Assistant
• Katharine Harger — Executive Assistant
• David Milroy — Chief Administrative Officer
• Jim Healy — Advisor to the President
• Ken Larson — Advisor to the President
• Diane Baum Verploegh — External Relations Associate

Instituto Action

• Kishore Jayabalan — Director of Istituto Acton
• Michael Severance — Operations Manager
• Rita De Vecchi — Special Projects Coordinator

Research

• Samuel Gregg — Director of Research
• Jordan Ballor — Research Fellow and Executive Editor, Journal of Markets & Morality
• Charissa Reul — Conference and Program Manager
• Julie Dudderar — Conference Coordinator
• Dylan Pahman — Managing Editor of JMM, and Research Fellow
• Anthony B. Bradley — Research Fellow
• Alejandro A. Chafuen — Senior Fellow
• Marvin Olasky — Senior Fellow
• Jennifer Roback Morse — Senior Fellow in Economics
• Kevin E. Schmiesing — Research Fellow
• Glenn Sunshine — Research Fellow
• Andreas Widmer — Research Fellow in Entrepreneurship
• Jonathan Witt — Research Fellow
• Michael Matheson Miller — Research Fellow, Producer of Poverty, Inc.

Programs and Education

• Chris Robertson — Program Outreach Coordinator
• Mike Cook — Manager of Programs; Acton Lecture Series and Acton University
• Michelle Hornak — Programs Assistant and AU Coordinator
• Mel Flikkema — Senior Advisor, Abraham Kuyper Translation Society

International

• Todd Huizinga — Director of International Outreach

PovertyCure

• Jonathan Moody — Managing Director of PovertyCure
• Patrick Oetting — PovertyCure Strategy & Engagement Manager

Communications

• John Couretas — Director of Communications, Executive Editor, Religion & Liberty
• Sarah Stanley — Communications Associate
• Bob Thomson — Web Developer
• Marc Vander Maas — Audio/Visual Manager
• Joe Carter — Senior Editor
• Raymond J. de Souza — Editor at Large, Religion & Liberty

Past People

• Jay W Richards — Media Director.

Actions

June 2016

The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty was among organizations named in a Massachusetts subpoena looking for communications between ExxonMobil and organizations denying climate change, reports The Washington Times. ³⁵Valerie Richardson. “Exxon fights Mass. AG’s ‘political’ probe into climate change dissent,” The Washington Times, June 15, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GepbJ

Organizations named in the Massachusetts subpoena include the following: 

• The Centre for Industrial Progress
• The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
• The American Enterprise Institute
• Americans for Prosperity
• The American Legislative Exchange Council
• The American Petroleum Institute
• The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University
• The George C. Marshall Institute
• The Heartland Institute 
• Mercatus Center at George Mason University

This latest inquiry by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is one in a series of investigations into what ExxonMobil knew about climate change and when, started by a coalition of attorneys general in the US. ³⁶Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” Desmog, April 1, 2016.

January 2015

Prior to the release of Pope Francis’s Encyclical and the Environment, the Acton Institute released a “Letter from Rome” addressing friends of Istituto Acton. ³⁷Kishore Jayabalan. “Letter from Rome: What will Pope Francis say about the environment?” Acton Institute, January 7, 2015. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ZhPYv

In the letter, Kishore Jayabalan (Director of the Acton Institute) suggests “Catholic environmentalists” have found environmentalism as a “substitute for their religious faith”:

“It is probably not surprising that some Catholic environmentalists are less interested in traditional religious matters such as what one believes about God and how one practices the faith than in making sure the birds and fish of the planet were protected from greedy industrialists. In fact, some have a hard time in calling God ‘Father’ because of its patriarchal significance. I got the distinct feeling that environmentalism was at least a large component if not a substitute for their religious faith.”

Jayabalan concludes by calling for Pope Francis to “avoid the Scylla of no-growth environmentalism and the Charybdis of technological conquest of nature.”

Michael Sean Winters criticizes Jayabalan’s letter at the National Catholic Reporter. ³⁸Michael Sean Winters. “Another ‘Prebuttal’ of Pope’s Encyclical on Environment,” National Catholic Reporter, January 8, 2015. Archived May 17, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/bNL6P

“It is pretty difficult to believe that there is not an organized effort among Catholic conservatives to rebut in advance whatever Pope Francis might say in his forthcoming encyclical on the environment, what we might call a ‘prebuttal’,” Winters writes. 

“[…] I would add that the libertarian, spread eagle capitalist right which calls Acton its home is right to be worried about the issue of environmentalism because their variety of capitalism has precisely no solutions to problem of environmental degradation and has, in fact, been a large part of the problem.”

Jayabalan responded to Winters, who he groups with “the high priests of leftist Catholic environmentalism,” saying that “Contrary to what Winters assumes, I am not recommending that Catholic social teaching worship Hayek or laissez-faire economics.” ³⁹Kishore Jayabalan. “Christian Stewardship or UN Sustainability?” Acton Institute, June 3, 2015. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2yiOd

Jayabalan adds he was “disinvited from the recent Vatican seminar on climate change because of a false rumor that the Acton Institute was involved with a Heartland Institute parallel event.”

May 2008

Michael Miller, Director of Programs at the Acton Institute, appeared on Jacksonville’s progressive talk radio station, AM 1460 WZNZ, to discuss “Global Warming and how Republican presidential candidate John McCain plans to address it.”⁴⁰“John McCain and Climate Change,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/n723b

Miller comments on McCain’s Cap and Trade proposal and moves to the topic “whether or not modern environmentalism is pantheistic, and a discussion of the dangers of a moral system based on pantheism,” the event description notes. 

Excerpts:

“We’ve seen 31,000 scientists just came out who are skeptical of global warming. And they’re worried that the policies people are proposing are actually going to harm the planet and they’re going to make people poorer. We also see some of the effects these regulations can have on the developing countries where serious poverty is a real problem,” says Miller.

“There’s a lot of skepticism about global warming. One: Climate change. Is it happening? And most people say ‘yes, this is happening’, but how is it happening? You saw perhaps a new study that just came out predicting global cooling over the next 10 years based on ocean currents.” […]

“And then there’s debate. These 31,000 scientists say it’s not happening. You have other scientists say it is happening. and McCain has said a long time ago that the science is settled. Well, I think there is an underlying political problem that is very interesting here. And that is that he, in the way he used his rhetoric, he basically put out of the picture any very serious person who’s concerned about the environment but is skeptical about global warming. So that becomes an impossible thing.

Now that’s very interesting also because Alexis de Tocqueville, the writer of Democracy in America, wrote two things. He said what sometimes happens in democratic societies is that, it’s not in a totalitarian way where you’re punished for it, but the limits of discussion become very narrow. And we’re seeing this happen with global warming where you can’t even have a serious discussion about what to do because ‘the science is settled’ according to  McCain. When, in fact, the science is not settled.

Second, Tocqueville predicted that democratic societies would move towards pantheism. When we see this global warming, what we’re seeing really is this view that somehow humans are a scourge on the planet. It’s an economic fallacy because it only sees humans as consumes and not also as producers and innovators, including being innovators of alternative technology sources which we see the market doing without government intervention […]”

”[…] Environmentalist policies that may or may not work, that are based on not certain data, could actually harm [the poor] and prevent economic development.”

April 16, 2008

Jay W. Richards, the Acton Institute’s past Media Director, presented at an Acton Institute lecture titled “Is it Hot In Here? What Should Christians Think About Global Warming?” ⁴¹“Is it Hot In Here? What Should Christians Think About Global Warming?” Acton Institute, April 16, 2008. Archived December 3, 2010. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

April 19, 2006

The Acton Institute co-hosted a special Capitol Hill luncheon titled “Pulpits, Pews and Environmental Policy: How the Cornwall Declaration is helping define the mandate of Biblical stewardship” where the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation (formerly the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, or ISA) announced the creation of the “Cornwall Network.” ⁴²(Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/DgV8I

The ISA/Cornwall Alliance describes the Cornwall Network as “a nationwide network of churches which are partnering with the ISA on biblical stewardship and environmental issues.” ⁴³(Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/DgV8I

“Not only does it answer the Bible’s call for God’s image bearers to care for the earth,” Dr E. Caliven Beisner, national spokesman for ISA said, “but also it shows that a growing number of people are reaching the level of economic security that permits them to focus on such concerns. For most poor people, environmental problems might pose significant threats to their well being, but their own poverty prevents them from paying very much attention to them.”

“Our aim with the Cornwall Network is to provide solidly Biblical information to religious leaders,” he explained, “coupled with sound scientific and economic information, to help point laypeople toward creation care that recognizes God’s extraordinary gifts to mankind, enlists those gifts to enhance the environment, and puts top priority on promoting human well being, especially among the world’s poor.”

According to the event description, “The briefing featured top theologians and policy experts who articulated a vision of Biblical stewardship, based upon the Cornwall Declaration, which has been signed by over 1,500 clergy, theologians, scientists, economists and other people of faith.”

Speakers at the event included:

• E. Calvin Beisner — National spokesman for the ISA 
• Rev. Dr. Jim Tonkowich — President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy
• Dr. Kelvin Kemm 
• Paul Driessen — Senior policy advisor to the Congress of Racial Equality
• Rev. Abdul Karim Sesay — Senior Pastor of Kings and Priests Court International Ministries in Silver Spring, Maryland
• Rev. Ralph Weitz — Stewardship Pastor of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia.

The Cornwall Declaration is the founding document of the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance/Cornwall Alliance and expresses concern over the “unfounded or undue concerns” of environmentalists such as “fears of destructive manmade global warming, overpopulation, and rampant species loss.”⁴⁴“The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship” (PDF), The Cornwall Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.

2001 (?)

The Acton Institute released a public policy document titled ”The Catholic Church and Stewardship of Creation.” The publication date is not listed, however the earliest it was archived online was April, 2000.⁴⁵“The Catholic Church and Stewardship of Creation,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XMcCJ

According to the document, regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are a “misguided attempt to solve a problem that may not even exist.”

The following “Editorial Board” is listed at the end of the document:

• Father J. Michael Beers, Ph.D., S.S.L., Associate Professor in Historical Theology, Pontifical College Josephinum
• Dr. Russell Hittinger, Warren Professor of Catholic Studies, University of Tulsa
• Father Matthew Lamb, S.T.L., Professor of Theology, Boston College
• Father Richard John Neuhaus, President, Institute for Religion and Public Life
• Dr. Robert Royal, President, Faith and Reason Institute
• Father Robert A. Sirico, President, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

The Acton Institute’s document refers to “Environmental Stewardship” 13 times. Notably, this term was also used in the Cornwall Alliance’s “Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship” which similarly presents doubt about man’s influence on climate, and whether action needs to be taken regarding global warming.⁴⁶“The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship” (PDF), The Cornwall Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.

Acton Institute Contact & Location

The Acton Institute lists the following contact information on its website:⁴⁷“Contact,” Acton Institute. May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/WqROQ

Headquarters
The Acton Institute
98 E. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Phone: 616.454.3080
Fax: 616.454.9454
Toll Free: 1.800.345.2286
E-mail: [email protected]

Rome Office
Istituto Acton Italia
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (Map)
No. 294
00186 Roma, ITALY

Tel: (+39) 06.688.92500
Fax: (+39) 06.682.14003
E-mail: [email protected]

Related Organizations

• Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation (Formerly Interfaith Stewardship Alliance — Present at the formation of the “Cornwall Network.”⁴⁸(Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/DgV8I

Social Media

• @ActonInsitute on Twitter.
• “Acton Institute” on Facebook.
• “Acton Institute” on LinkedIn.

Other Resources

• “Acton Institute,” SourceWatch profile.
• “Acton Institute,” Wikipedia.
• Cory Andrews. “Acton Institute,” American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia (2006), Wilmington, DE: ISI Books.

Resources

• 1
  Convissor, Kate (August 1999). “The Acton Institute: Of Morality & the Marketplace,” Grand Rapids Magazine 36-37.
• 2
  “Global Directory: Acton Institute,” Atlas Network.  Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/h8KjA
• 3
  “About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/Fn1Dc
• 4
  “Put a Tiger In Your Think Tank,” Mother Jones, (May/June 2005). Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/BjDZ4
• 5
  “FACTSHEET: ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY,” ExxonSecrets.
• 6
  “Global warming: a battle for evangelical Christian hearts and minds,” SkepticalScience, October 2, 2014.
• 7
  (Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/DgV8I
• 8
  Jordan Ballor. “Christian Reformed Church Backs UN Climate Change Agenda,” Acton Institute, July 8, 2015. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/ukbUs
• 9
  Dylan Pahman. “Solar Power Simplicity: A First-World Luxury,” Acton Institute, December 4, 2013. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/OmPBf
• 10
  Benjamin B. Phillips. “Evangelicals and Global Warming,” Acton Institute, June 23, 2010. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Bfrkd
• 11
  “John McCain and Climate Change,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/n723b
• 12
  “An Earth Day Review of Global Warming,” Acton Institute. Archived September 1, 2010. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
• 13
  “The Catholic Church and Stewardship of Creation,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/yyE97
• 14
  “Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty,” Conservative Transparency. Data retrived May 18, 2017.
• 15
  Andy Kroll. “Exposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement,” Mother Jones, February 5, 2013. Archived July 24, 2015.
• 16
  “Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” GreenPeace USA. Archived May 1, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dFb9h
• 17
  “Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” GreenPeace USA. Archived May 1, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dFb9h
• 18
  “FACTSHEET: ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY,” ExxonSecrets. Archived March 24, 2016.
• 19
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived August 23, 2000. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zT4jN
• 20
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 21, 2001. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kZ45J
• 21
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived June 15, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Uj5FG
• 22
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived September 1, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/uGLgk
• 23
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived September 27, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/M1sAP
• 24
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived June 25, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/XKNL7
• 25
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 24, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kySdK
• 26
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 25, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EYTzD
• 27
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived February 14, 2013. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/BQUxy
• 28
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 20, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WgVTr
• 29
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6fiOuQIu5
• 30
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived August 23, 2000. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zT4jN
• 31
  “About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute. Archived August 1, 2003. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8snuj
• 32
  “About the Acton Institute,” Acton Institute. Archived August 20, 2004. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Rs4eR
• 33
  “Board of Directors,” Acton Institute. Archived December 24, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kySdK
• 34
  “Acton Institute Staff,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/CoOFr
• 35
  Valerie Richardson. “Exxon fights Mass. AG’s ‘political’ probe into climate change dissent,” The Washington Times, June 15, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GepbJ
• 36
  Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” Desmog, April 1, 2016.
• 37
  Kishore Jayabalan. “Letter from Rome: What will Pope Francis say about the environment?” Acton Institute, January 7, 2015. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ZhPYv
• 38
  Michael Sean Winters. “Another ‘Prebuttal’ of Pope’s Encyclical on Environment,” National Catholic Reporter, January 8, 2015. Archived May 17, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/bNL6P
• 39
  Kishore Jayabalan. “Christian Stewardship or UN Sustainability?” Acton Institute, June 3, 2015. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2yiOd
• 40
  “John McCain and Climate Change,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/n723b
• 41
  “Is it Hot In Here? What Should Christians Think About Global Warming?” Acton Institute, April 16, 2008. Archived December 3, 2010. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
• 42
  (Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/DgV8I
• 43
  (Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/DgV8I
• 44
  “The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship” (PDF), The Cornwall Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
• 45
  “The Catholic Church and Stewardship of Creation,” Acton Institute. Archived March 2, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XMcCJ
• 46
  “The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship” (PDF), The Cornwall Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
• 47
  “Contact,” Acton Institute. May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/WqROQ
• 48
  (Press Release). “ISA Announces Launch of Cornwall Network at Senate Luncheon,” Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, April 19, 2006. Archived May 7, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/DgV8I