Catholic High School Honor Roll Recognizes Schools
The National Catholic High School Honor Roll announced its fifth selection of the best 50 Catholic secondary schools in the United States in November 2008. Ten brand new honorees were included in the prestigious list this year. Additionally, eight schools have received the top recognition for each of the five years the honor roll has been in existence. Before the Honor Roll’s launch in 2004, there were no national evaluations for Catholic secondary schools.
The purpose of the honor roll is to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education. Schools that excel in academic excellence, Catholic identity, and civic education receive valuable recognition and feedback through the honor roll program. “We feel these three areas are the best way to evaluate the overall success of a Catholic high school,” said Anthony Pienta, program coordinator for the Catholic High School Honor Roll at the Acton Institute.
Highlighting the importance of Catholic identity, the president of Cardinal Stritch High School, Fr. David Reinhart, declared, “Not all Catholic schools are created equal and many are not working to make sure they are staying true to their Catholic mission. Thank you for recognizing those who are.” Cardinal Stritch High School in Toledo, Ohio, is a three-time honoree, was again included in the top 50 schools this year.
Denise Funke, director for formation for girls at the Highlands School in Irving, Texas, noted, “The Acton Institute has given a great opportunity to Catholic educators with the Honor Roll. It recognizes those that strive to maintain high academic standards, while also being faithful to their identity and mission as a Catholic school.” The Acton Institute would like to thank all of the schools who have participated in this valuable survey.
You can view the entire list of the top 50 schools, as well as lists of the ten honorable mention schools in each category by visiting the website www.chshonor.org.
Acton Cosponsors Rome Event
On Wednesday, December 3, the Acton Institute and the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See cosponsored the conference, “Philanthropy and Human Rights: Creating Space for Caritas in Civil Society” at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. Over 150 attendees heard addresses on a range of themes relating to charity, the practice of philanthropy, and the dynamic role played by civil society and other non-state actors in alleviating moral, spiritual, and material poverty. Rev. Robert Sirico chaired the conference’s two sessions. Speakers included the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, His Most Eminent Highness Fra Matthew Festing; the American ambassador to the Holy See, Her Excellency Professor Mary Ann Glendon; the incoming president of the American Enterprise Institute, Professor Arthur Brooks; Mr. Frank Hanna of Hanna Capital; Dr. Jürgen Liminski of Aid to the Church in Need; and American theologian Mr. Michael Novak. Among the attendees were members of the Roman Curia, several ambassadors and chargés d’affaires, faculty from pontifical universities, many journalists from religious and secular media, and a large number of Catholic clergy.
The speakers addressed many subjects from a variety of disciplinary and professional standpoints. Fra Festing and Mr. Hanna highlighted the worrying contemporary phenomenon of governments using their contributions to private charities, including those of a religious inspiration, to try to force private organizations to embrace policies to which they are ethically opposed. Ambassador Glendon focused on the superior ability of voluntary associations and religious organizations to realize many of the aspirational rights contained in the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights. Reflecting on the conference, the director of Acton’s Rome office, Mr. Kishore Jayabalan commented: “In the debate about the roles of government and market exchange in realizing basic moral and material goods, civil society is often forgotten, especially in Western Europe. Active and widespread philanthropy, as we find in the United States, is one indication that civil society is flourishing.”
Controlling the Weather
There is a saying that every day is a picture-perfect day, even in the middle of the most terrible storms and adverse weather conditions. You may be wondering, how is it possible that every day is picture perfect? The saying continues that such occasions are a pleasant reminder of the fact that at least when it comes to the weather, God and not the government is in charge. This anecdote is a subtle reminder of the scope of the government’s influence over our lives, and we must remember that this reach extends to our estate planning. Government rules and regulations have already established many of the ways in which your property will be distributed until you supersede them with your own will. Often, the rules created by the government are in conflict with your wishes for your family and plans for your estate. Yet, surprisingly, the majority of Americans do not have a will. Regardless of personal circumstances, a will benefits your estate and ensures assets are distributed as you desire.
While the Acton Institute cannot offer legal advice, we do have resources available and a staff member ready to assist you in beginning the process. Please contact Charles Roelofs at (616) 454-3080 or e-mail [email protected] for assistance.
A New Year for the Acton Lecture Series
On January 15, the Acton Lecture Series will resume again at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first lecturer this year is Dr. Donald P. Condit, who will be delivering an address titled “Our Next Exigency: How Ought Health Care Be Reformed?” Dr. Condit, MD, MBA, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery in Grand Rapids. The Acton Institute will be publishing Dr. Condit’s Christian Social Thought Series monograph titled Health Care Reform in 2009.
Also lecturing in 2009 are Acton’s President Rev. Robert Sirico, Mr. Lawrence W. Reed, Dr. Samuel Gregg, Mrs. Teresa Tomeo, and Mr. Michael Miller.
Mr. Lawrence W. Reed will be speaking on the engaging topic “The Importance of Character in a Free Society.“ In this lecture, he will discuss the character crisis in America and what we can do about it. Mr. Reed’s lecture is scheduled for May 7. He is the former president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the new president of the Foundation for Economic Education. Also in December of 2007, Reed was named visiting senior fellow with The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Speaking in September 2009 will be Mrs. Tomeo, who will deliver a lecture on “Managing the Media in a Crisis Situation.” Mrs. Tomeo is a veteran broadcast journalist with more than twenty years of experience as a radio and TV news reporter. Currently Mrs. Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, professional speaker, and media consultant.
Also scheduled for 2009 in the lecture series are two well known Acton speakers who will deliver remarks on the financial crisis. On February 12, Dr. Samuel Gregg will deliver an address on the topic “America’s Economic Crisis: Looking Back, Looking Forward.” Dr. Gregg is director of research at the Acton Institute. Mr. Michael Miller will deliver a lecture on the international financial crisis in April. Mr. Miller is director of programs at the Acton Institute.
Acton and You
The Acton Institute is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2009 Acton University (AU), which will take place on June 16-19 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year’s expanded curriculum and distinguished international faculty will once again lead an in-depth four-day exploration of the intellectual foundations of a free society.
Acton University is open to undergraduate and graduate students, nonprofit professionals, pastors, professors, business people, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the integration of sound economics, rigorous philosophy, and the Judeo-Christian faith.
Last year’s conference featured attendees who represented over 51 countries. This year’s conference will feature informative and valuable faculty panel discussions. Classes offered at Acton University will jump from fifty to sixty, and there will be a number of exciting additions to the faculty, which includes Princeton professor Dr. Robert P. George. If you have additional questions about Acton University, please contact Kara Eagle at [email protected] or visit the website at www.acton.org/actonu/.
