I was honored to be the master of ceremonies for the 31st anniversary of the Acton Institute. While every Annual Dinner is special, this year was particularly significant.
It was a celebration of my friend and co-founder, Father Sirico, who transitions into his new role as president emeritus. I’m encouraged knowing that Father will remain actively involved in Acton’s public intellectual work for years to come.
The Annual Dinner was also the occasion for my assumption of the office of president. It is an honor and privilege to serve in this new capacity, continuing Acton’s vital work of building up a free and virtuous society.
In this issue you will learn about that great event as well as the recent address by John Bursch of the Alliance Defending Freedom on the future of religious liberty in America. Lord Acton saw religious freedom and freedom of conscience as the foundations on which a free society is built, and Bursch’s lecture gives a timely appraisal of their current prospects in the United States.
Included also is a brief on a recent op-ed by Dan Hugger, librarian and research associate at the Acton Institute, in The Detroit News about the recent removals of public statues. Hugger’s perspective on these actions takes seriously the role of monuments and memory in shaping our shared future.
Lastly, there is a brief on the recent release of the book Digital Contagion by the Acton Institute’s senior research fellow Michael Matheson Miller. Miller’s book assesses both the promises and dangers of digital life today and provides concrete steps you can take to help protect yourself, your family, and your business from the perils of digital technology.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors. Thank you! Your help and encouragement are crucial. A free and virtuous society is only possible if the ideas that undergird it are nurtured. If you are just learning about Acton, be sure to check out our website, and please prayerfully consider supporting us in our mission.
