Toward a Free and Virtuous Society: Foundations for Flourishing

Dr. Rathbone Bradley’s academic work focuses on the political economy of terrorism with specific emphasis on the industrial organization of al-Qaeda. Her academic research has been published in scholarly journals and edited volumes. She is currently working on a book that analyzes the political economy of al-Qaeda post 9/11. Based on her academic research she also worked as an economic analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency’s Office of Terrorism Analysis.

Dr. Rathbone Bradley received her Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University in 2006 during which time she was a James M. Buchanan scholar.

He received a B.S. in international business from Messiah College and an MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School. Peter has written The Poor Will Be Glad (with Phil Smith), The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good (with Anna Haggard), Mission Drift (with Chris Horst, and selected as a 2015 Book Award Winner from Christianity Today), Entrepreneurship for Human Flourishing (with Chris Horst), Watching Seeds Grow (with his son Keith), 40/40 Vision (with Greg Lafferty), The Giver and the Gift (with David Weekley), Created to Flourish (with Phil Smith), and The Board and the CEO (with David Weekley).

Currently, Peter serves as the entrepreneur-in-residence at Messiah College and as a Praxis Venture Partner.

Peter and his wife, Laurel, live in Lancaster, PA, with their three children, Keith, Lilianna, and Myles.

He has taught at Taylor University and Union University, served as director and senior fellow of the Bryan Institute for Critical Thought & Practice, and was a 2013/14 visiting professor in the honors program at Berry College. Charles served as a 2007/8 William B. Simon visiting fellow in religion and public life at the James Madison Program, Princeton University, as well as the 2003/4 visiting fellow of the Institute for Faith & Learning, Baylor University. The focus of Charles’ research and writing is religion and society, the ethics of war and peace, the natural law, and Christian social ethics. Prior to entering the university classroom, Charles did public policy work in the realm of criminal justice in Washington, DC.

While serving as missionaries in West Africa, Matt and his wife Grace linked up with Water4 after searching for a better way to do manual well drilling than the way they were previously doing it. Water4 shared their desire to put financially and technologically sustainable solutions in the hands of local, missional businesses. In 2011 when ongoing medical treatments required the Hangen’s relocation to the U.S., Water4 was happy to gain someone with the field experience to travel and train up-and-coming drill teams throughout the world. Architecting Water4’s programmatic approach from the ground up, Matt leads from the front line and not an ivory tower.

Water4 believes in using F.I.R.E. Faith: Infusing faith in Jesus and the desire to do God’s will into everything we do. Innovation: The constant pursuit of creative, lasting solutions to complex problems. Reimagine: Inspiring people to think differently about the water crisis. Empower: Partnering with local people to solve local problems sustained by local resources. Safe water changes everything. When affordable access to safe water is available to all, communities thrive and lives are changed forever. Safe water is just the beginning. Hygiene and sanitation education is critical for ending waterborne diseases in the communities Water4 serves. Water4 started with a dream where the people suffering from the water crisis would be the ones to ultimately solve it. That dream is coming true today.

Matt and his wife Grace have two beautiful daughters and live in Guthrie, Oklahoma and enjoy all things outdoors.

As president of the Acton Institute, Fr. Sirico lectures at colleges, universities, and business organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad. His writings on religious, political, economic, and social matters are published in a variety of journals, including: the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, theLondon Financial Times, the Washington Times, the Detroit News, and National Review. Fr. Sirico is often called upon by members of the broadcast media for statements regarding economics, civil rights, and issues of religious concern, and has provided commentary for CNN, ABC, the BBC, NPR, and CBS' 60 Minutes, among others.

In April of 1999, Fr. Sirico was awarded an honorary doctorate in Christian Ethics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and in May of 2001, Universidad Francisco Marroquin awarded him an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences. He is a member of the prestigious Mont Pèlerin Society, the American Academy of Religion, and the Philadelphia Society, and is on the Board of Advisors of the Civic Institute in Prague. Father Sirico also served on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1994 to 1998. His pastoral ministry has included a chaplaincy to AIDS patients at the National Institutes of Health. He is the Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Acton Institute maintains a vigorous editorial outreach, especially through its president, Rev. Robert A. Sirico. This site maintains an archive of many of his essays and reviews.

Father Sirico holds dual Italian and American citizenship.