Acton Line

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with the Acton Institute’s Stephen Barrows, chief operating officer, and John Pinheiro, director of research, about the life and legacy of Pope Francis. This wide-ranging conversation covers Pope Francis’s perspective on the market, the environment, liturgy, synodality, business, ecumenicism, and the poor. Which parts of Pope Francis’s legacy will endure? What was his contribution to the life of the Catholic Church? Requiem Aeternam: Pope Francis (1936–2025) | John Pinheiro & Michael Matheson MillerPope Francis’ Plea for Migrants and Acton’s Core Principles | Stephen BarrowsPope Francis and the Caring Society | Robert M. Whaples, ed.Can a Capitalist Society Also Be a Caring Society? | Robert WhaplesPope Francis changed the Catholic church, but not as much as he hoped | The EconomistLaudato Si' (May 24, 2015) | Pope FrancisPope Francis's Authority in Laudato Si | National ReviewMessage of the Holy Father to French Entrepreneurs (Paris, August 28–29, 2023)Declaration Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings (December 18, 2023)Pope Francis’ Legacy of Question Marks | Francis X. MaierLetter of His Holiness Pope Francis on the Role of Literature in Formation (July 17, 2024)Full text: Pope Francis' in-flight press conference from Armenia | Catholic News AgencyFrom Conflict to Communion: Lutheran–Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017 | The Lutheran World Federationtheology matters: A New Doctor of the Church (St. Gregory of Narek) | Mark Del CoglianoLumen Gentium | Pope Paul VIUt Unum Sint (May 25, 1995) | John Paul IIDominus Iesus |Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

The 2024 PovertyCure Summit “Dignity, Agency & Charity” was a virtual event put on by Acton’s Center for Social Flourishing. Over two days, participants learned from scholars and practitioners involved in the global struggle against poverty—and against the “toxic charity” that hinders people’s ability to rise. On today’s episode, we bring you the keynote presented by Dr. William Easterly entitled “Beyond Material Progress: Markets and Dignity in the Fight Against Global Poverty.” As material living standards improve in the developing world, are people better able to pursue their own aspirations and desires? Less able? Subscribe to our podcasts PovertyCure Summit

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Marvin Olasky, executive editor for News and Global at Christianity Today and the founder and chairman of Zenger House. They discuss many of the news stories that won the 2025 Zenger Prizes. What is the state of journalism today? How does honoring excellence in journalism encourage better journalism? What makes for a good story, ethically and technically? How can those who love reading great journalism become great journalists themselves?Zenger House | Biblically Objective Journalism2025 Winners | Zenger HouseAt Bible Study for the Homeless, a Search for Meaning | The New York TimesWhat I Saw in the Darién Gap | The AtlanticThe Border Crisis Won't Be Solved, No Matter Who Wins the ElectionHeroes and heartbreak: 36 hours of hell in Helene's historic floodsA Retiree in California Is Teaching Afghan Women How to Drive | The New York Times‘I lied about everything’: An NFL player hid his family trauma until he saved them — and himself | The AthleticThe Indian Midwives Who Turned the Tide on InfanticideThe Christians Trying to Restore Our Faith in Elections | Christianity TodayThe Heroic Race to Rescue 370 Orphans from a War Zone—Twice | WSJDoctors Can Now Save Very Premature Babies. Most Hospitals Don’t Try. | WSJThe Most Revealing Moment of a Trump Rally | The AtlanticThe Elements of Style | WikipediaWriting with Style: The Economist Guide | Profile BooksGlobe Trot | Mindy Belz | SubstackBonnie Kristian | Substack

Join Ryan Bourne, an economic expert at the Cato Institute, and Alex Nowrasteh, VP for Policy Studies, as they delve into the intriguing world of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They explore how DOGE can reshape government operations amidst rising debt and discuss the chaotic yet potentially transformative processes at play. The duo also examines the unpredictable nature of Dogecoin and its impact on public policy, highlighting the tension between political ideologies and fiscal realities in the evolving landscape.

In his latest book, “Broken Altars: Secularist Violence in Modern History,” Thomas Albert Howard presents three principal forms of modern secularism that have arisen since the Enlightenment: passive, combative, and eliminationist. Howard argues that the latter two have been especially violence-prone and says Westerners do not fully grasp this because they often mistake passive secularism for secularism as a whole. But a disconcertingly more complicated picture emerges when you adopt a broader global vision. On today’s episode, John Pinheiro, Acton’s director of research, talks to Howard about secularism, what about it we often misunderstand, and his book. Subscribe to our podcasts Broken Altars: Secularist Violence in Modern History | Yale University Press Thomas Albert (Tal) Howard | Valparaiso University The Gulag Archipelago | Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression

On today’s episode, Dan Churchwell, Acton’s director of programs and education, talks to James Hartley, professor of economics at Mount Holyoke College, ahead of James’ Acton Lecture Series event. They survey the discipline of economics and how James came to study it for over 30 years. The lecture, entitled “Tariffs, Trade Wars, and the State of the Economy,” sifts through the noise of the often-bewildering claims and counterclaims of economic news. You can watch James’ lecture at ondemand.acton.org.Subscribe to our podcastsActon UniversityActon On-Demand

The 2024 PovertyCure Summit, “Dignity, Agency & Charity,” was a virtual event put on by Acton’s Center for Social Flourishing. Over two days, participants learned from scholars and practitioners involved in the global struggle against poverty—and against “toxic charity” that hinders people’s ability to rise.On today’s episode, we bring you a presentation from Dr. Seth Kaplan, author of the book ‘Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time.’ He talks about why American society is in trouble and what we can do about it.Subscribe to our podcastsFragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a TimePovertyCure Summit

On today’s episode, we bring you a conversation from Acton University between Acton’s director of programming, Dan Churchwell, and Scott Rae, professor of philosophy and Christian ethics at Biola University. They discuss medical and business ethics, death, and the Resurrection. Acton University is Acton’s flagship conference, focused on building the foundations of human freedom and exploring the intersection of faith and free markets. To learn more about Acton University, please visit university.acton.org. And to find additional content from previous Acton Universities, please visit ondemand.acton.org. Subscribe to our podcastsActon UniversityActon On-DemandScott Rae | Biola University

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Stephen Smith, dean of the humanities, Temple Family Chair in English Literature, and professor of English at Hillsdale College, about St. Thomas More, William Shakespeare, and Christian humanism. What is the Christian humanist tradition? How does St. Thomas More exemplify that tradition? How was William Shakespeare inspired by More’s life, scholarship, and sensibility? How can we revive the humanities and continue the Christian humanist tradition today?Stephen Smith — Hillsdale CollegeThomas More StudiesThe Essential Works of Thomas MoreWhat is Christian humanism? A conversation with Bradley J. BirzerThe Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis | Alan JacobsDe officiis, with an English translation by Walter Miller | Marcus Tullius CiceroOn Friendship (De Amicitia) | Marcus Tullius CiceroMore’s Letter to Antonio Bonvisi, 1535The Book of Sir Thomas More

Andrew M. McGinnis, assistant director of research at the CRCD and managing editor of the Journal of Religion, Culture & Democracy, dives into early modern economics and ethics. He sheds light on the School of Salamanca's contributions and the revival of natural law in Protestant thought. McGinnis discusses how print culture during the Reformation shaped ideas and emphasizes the moral complexity of commerce. The conversation also explores exciting technological advancements that help uncover lost manuscripts, inviting curiosity about historical treasures.