Acton Institute - Conferences and Events

Conferences and Events

The Acton Institute hosts programs throughout the world for business, educational, and religious leaders. These programs take various forms and include:

• Acton University: Acton's annual conference in Grand Rapids is its largest and most international event (participants from from 70 different countries). The conference is focused on the convergence of philosophy, theology, and economics in the intellectual foundations of a free society.

• An annual dinner in Grand Rapids: Past speakers have been business leaders, political commentators, and Justices of the Supreme Court—Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Sir John Templeton, Bob McTeer, Charles Colson, John Stossel, Michael Medved, Dick DeVos, and Sirico's brother, actor Tony Sirico, have all spoken.

• Centesimus Annus Conference Series: Nine conferences were held in Rome and Poland in 2006 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's encyclical.

• "Toward a Free and Virtuous Society" conferences: Seminars that apply social justice principles to economics; held several times a year since the institute's founding for future religious leaders.

• Acton Lecture Series: Ongoing lecture series which brings Acton's research fellows and guests to a local audience. Past speakers include Russell Kirk, William F. Buckley, Jr., Avery Cardinal Dulles, and Michael Novak.